Queen Elizabeth II will be turning 90 on April 21 this year, making her the first reigning British monarch ever to reach that age. Her Royal Majesty has been reigning since 1952 and is about to reach a landmark age, with loads of celebrations planned.
However, unlike us mere mortals, Queen Elizabeth II gets to celebrate more than just her actual date of birth, as various events will be held over the next couple of months in celebration of her birthday. Anyone planning a trip to London will find the various events and pageants fascinating, colorful, and well worth the trip.
Have you heard the latest way the nation will mark the Queen’s 90th birthday? https://t.co/JX6mvLQ6FC pic.twitter.com/GiKrxU8R1m
— HELLO! (@hellomag) March 24, 2016
While most likely enjoying the actual day of her birth privately with the family, between May 12 and 15, there will be a huge pageant celebrating the Queen’s Life, to be held at the Home Park at Windsor Castle. Members of the Royal family will be in attendance over the entire four-day pageant, while Queen Elizabeth herself will reportedly be attending only on the last night.
During the event, more than 900 horses and 1,500 participants – including dancers, musicians and choirs, well-known artists, and actors from all over the world – will perform as a troupe to celebrate the big day. It seems to be a popular event, as according to a travel blog by Free Tours by Foot, 25,000 tickets to the event have already been sold.
However, the entire Royal Pageant will be streamed live on TV and will air in several of the various bars and pubs throughout London.
On June 10, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will be attending a National Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Reportedly this is an invite-only affair, but again it will be televised live and the public will be able to line the route between Buckingham Palace and St. Paul’s Cathedral to get a glimpse of Her Majesty as she passes by.
June 11 thsees a spectacular, not to be missed event – the “Trooping of the Colour.” The event is held in several different locations simultaneously, namely Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards Parade, St. James’s Park and The Mall, giving the general public and visitors to the city a chance to enjoy the traditional spectacle.
The event involves all members of the Royal Family, along with the Queen’s Guard and Household Calvary, in a parade which concludes with a spectacular fly past over Buckingham Palace by the Royal Air Force.
Getting back to the many pubs of London, as per a report by Hello Magazine, pubs that are normally licensed to trade until 11.00 p.m. will be able to stay open for an extra two hours on June 10 and 11, allowing residents and visitors celebrating Her Majesty’s birthdayevents a little extra time to party.
Pub hours to be extended for Queen’s 90th birthday https://t.co/YZg8xy704Q pic.twitter.com/G1zTxde2Sv
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 23, 2016
On June 12 th , The Mall in London will be magically transformed into one huge street party, as the Patron’s Lunch is held. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip will be in attendance along with 10,000 guests, all enjoying a picnic lunch, while acrobats and street performers entertain the crowd.
This is not easily attended by the general public, unfortunately, as the Patron’s Lunch is thrown to celebrate the more than 600 charities and organizations patronized by Her Majesty, but reportedly there are 1,000 tickets available on sale by public ballot for those lucky few.
If you can’t make it to the Patron’s Lunch itself, it is possible to watch the entire event on giant screens to be placed in St. James’s Park and Green Park.
For those who enjoy all the pomp and pageantry of the British Royal Family, the various events held in May and June this year will definitely be of interest.
[Photo Queen Elizabeth II by Chris Jackson/Getty Images]
