Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family gathered on Buckingham Palaces balcony to watch a flypast by the RAF which included the Red Arrows, two Spitfires and four helicopters. Kate Middletons daughter, Princess Charlotte, who was on the balcony for the first time, appeared alarmed by the noise of the aircraft and covered her ears.
The Queen is celebrating her official landmark birthday over the next three days in a series of fun-filled festivities. Her coronation was on 2 June 1953, making the Queen the longest-serving monarch in British history. She has become a much-loved and respected figure across the globe.
Though she was born on 21 April, 1926, and has already reached her 90th birthday milestone, Her Royal Highness enjoys two birthdays a year, and the British weather is to blame.
Since 1748, the monarchs official birthday has been marked by a parade called Trooping the Colour – previously held on the king or queens actual birthday.
However, when King Edward VII – who reigned from 1901 to 1910 – was born on November 9, 1841, he celebrated officially in May or June because there was less chance of it being rainy or cold during the outdoor event.
Unfortunately for the Queen, London is expected to be hit by showers all weekend, in true British summer style. There will however be a silver lining to Saturdays rather grey clouds, because it will be mild at 21°C. Sunday will see temperatures of approximately 19°C with lighter showers.
IBTimes UK rounds up the Queens big birthday weekend including when and where to watch the televised celebrations; so get your Victoria sponge and pots of tea at the ready as the regal revelries get under way.
The Queens 90th Birthday: The National Service of Thanksgiving
Friday 10 June BBC1 9.30am – 12.15pm
The weekend festivities kicks off the worldwide celebrations to mark the Queens 90th birthday with a National Service of Thanksgiving broadcast live from St Pauls Cathedral. Her Majesty will be accompanied by her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who is celebrating his own 95th birthday today (10 June), and senior members of the royal family including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It is presented by Huw Edwards and Kirsty Young, and features an anthem composed by Judith Weir and sung by the cathedral choir.
The Queens 90th Birthday: The National Service of Thanksgiving – Highlights
Friday 10 June BBC2 7pm – 8pm
If you missed the aforementioned live coverage of the St Pauls service, tune into BBC2 at 7pm where youll be filled in on the key moments from the event, also hosted by Edwards and Young.
Trooping the Colour 2016
Saturday 11 June BBC1 10.15am – 1.05pm
Now the real party can start. Following the prim and proper National Service of Thanksgiving at St Pauls Cathedral, we can get our picnic baskets, plastic ponchos and brollies at the ready for Elizabeth IIs Birthday Parade. The merriment will unfold in earnest in front of a raucous, giant crowd as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh travel from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Square. There, they will behold a display of pageantry comprising more than 1,400 officers and soldiers, 400 musicians and 200 horses. The royal family will then appear on the Palace balcony with an RAF flypast. Huw Edwards and Clare Balding will present the live coverage of the pageantry and spectacle.
The Queens 90th Birthday: The Patrons Lunch
Sunday 12 June BBC1 1.15pm – 4.15pm
Kirsty Young presents live coverage of the Patrons Lunch in St James Park, London, which is the third event to celebrate the Queens 90th birthday over the course of the weekend. Its a good old-fashioned quintessential British street party to end all street parties, and will take place across the half-a-mile length of the Mall. It will be lined with chairs and tables as 10,000 people celebrate the Queens patronage of more than 600 charities and other organisations. New funds will be raised as the carnival-style gathering unfolds with plenty of cake and jammy scones in the luxury hamper-style lunch over the three-hour broadcast.
