Today is a very special day for one of the country’s best loved faces, and best-loved monarchs. Queen Elizabeth II today celebrates a fantastic milestone, so join us on the blog today as we say a big Happy 90th Birthday Queen Elizabeth!

Celebrations have been ongoing all week, and indeed, will there will be special events held around the country for the next few months to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday. Today, the Queen herself will meet the public at Windsor today, and tributes to Her Majesty have been pouring in from around the world.

Image from wikicommons

Queen Elizabeth II has lived through some of the country’s greatest, and most testing times. From the horrors of the Second World War to the joyous celebrations of the turn of the new millennium, and from personal tragedies to happy family moments. Elizabeth took over the Royal title when her father passed away in February 1952, although she wasn’t crowned until the following summer – 2nd June 1953. She is the longest ever serving monarch in Great Britain’s history, with a reign of over 64 years. Coincidentally, Elizabeth’s coronation was the first ever to be televised, and was watched by over 90 million people around the world.

The Queen has sat for over 130 official portrait paintings – phew! And she also holds the record of the British monarch to have the longest marriage. She married Prince Phillip in 1947 so they’ve been married for over 68 years. But, Queen Elizabeth’s reign hasn’t always been easy. She has often faced opposition and criticism from anti-royalists, although she is well loved and respected among much of the nation and the commonwealth.

Although the 21st April is the Queen’s real birthday – the day she was born, however, the Queen’s official birthday is marked in June. This is mainly because of the unreliable British weather – the Royal Family have long marked birthdays with street parades and outdoor celebrations, so any Royal born in the colder months has a second birthday celebration during the summer.

So, why not join us as we say Happy 90th Birthday Queen Elizabeth! And look out for details of local and national events scheduled throughout May and June to celebrate Her Majesty’s special day.