HAVE you ever wondered why the Queen has two birthdays? Her Majesty will celebrate her 96th birthday at Sandringham today (Thursday) and again in June.
Well it’s partly down to the British weather and a long-held tradition in our monarchy.
In 1748, King George II decided the weather in November would probably not be suitable for a public celebration for his actual birthday. So he decided to move any celebrations to the summer months in the hope the sun would be shining.
It was a decision seized upon by the Queen’s great-grandfather Edward VII who again was born in November.
During his reign he standardised the summer ‘official’ birthday celebrations, a tradition passed down to our current monarch who celebrates her April birthday with a 41-gun salute in London’s Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.
For Her Majesty herself, today is expected to be a quiet, private day and it’s said she has travelled to Sandringham to ‘be closer’ to her beloved late husband Prince Phillip on her special day.
Come June, her official birthday will form part of a series of celebrations for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee weekend from June 2 to 5.
Trooping the Colour will move from its traditional Saturday slot to Thursday, June 2 to kick off four days of celebrations to mark the Queen’s 70 years of service to her country and the Commonwealth.
Visit platinumjubilee.gov.uk for more on the celebrations being planned.
Happy Birthday Ma’am!
