Britain’s Queen Elizabeth’s 96th birthday marked with gun salutes
- Britain’s monarch received a rousing ‘Happy Birthday’ from a military band outside her Windsor Castle home
- This is Queen Elizabeth’s platinum jubilee year, marking her 70 years on the throne
Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 96th birthday at her Sandringham estate on Thursday as gun salutes rang out across London and Windsor and military bands played “Happy Birthday”.
Britain’s longest serving monarch, who celebrates a historic platinum jubilee this year, was pictured with two white ponies in a photo released for the occasion.
Government ministers joined members of the royal family in sending their best wishes to the queen, who has stepped back from most public duties this year over concerns about her health.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is visiting India, wished the queen a happy birthday and paid a “heartfelt tribute” to her “70 years of dedicated and faultless service to our country and the Commonwealth” in a video message.
“An inspiration to so many across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world, it’s particularly special to be celebrating in this Platinum Jubilee year,” her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate said on Twitter.
Royal tradition since the 18th century has also seen the monarch have a second, official birthday, typically celebrated in warmer weather in June.
This year’s official birthday coincides with four days of public events from June 2 to 5 to mark her record-breaking 70th year on the throne.