Royals turn on party pageantry
As the song goes, long lives our noble Queen. And out comes the cake and bunting.
It’s the Queen’s birthday – still.
If it seems like the monarch celebrated her 90th birthday just a few months ago, that’s because she did. On April 21, to be exact, when much of the nation came together to praise her long and constant reign.
But in the arcane ways of the British monarchy, that doesn’t stop her from marking the event again with three days of festivities that started yesterday with pomp, pageantry and prayer at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The British sovereign has two birthdays each year: one on the actual date of her birth and the other one in early June, when London’s royal parks usually bask in sunshine.
Yesterday’s service – which coincided with a 41-gun salute to honour the queen’s husband, Prince Philip, on his actual 95th birthday – included other 90-yearold speakers. Among them were naturalist David Attenborough, who read from the works of 90-year-old Paddington Bear creator Michael Bond, and Hilda Price, who was born on the same day as the Queen.
In a ceremony laden with the pageantry that accompanies significant royal events, the monarch was greeted by a trumpet fanfare, while the entrance to the cathedral was flanked by her Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard.
The monarch, dressed in a primrose yellow coat-dress and matching hat, turned to smile at a crowd of well-wishers singing Happy Birthday as she climbed the cathedral steps. Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Prince William and his wife Kate, Prince Harry and dozens of other royals joined politicians and the wider community in a thundering rendition of God Save the Queen.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, set the tone by reminding Britain of the Queen’s long life and dedicated service.
‘‘We look back on Your Majesty’s 90 years in the life of our nation with deep wonder and profound gratitude,’’ he said.
‘‘Through war and hardship, through turmoil and change, we have been fearfully and wonderfully sustained.’’
We look back on Your Majesty’s 90 years in the life of our nation with deep wonder and profound gratitude. Justin Welby Archbishop of Canterbury,
Street parties are planned in many locations, including some in Commonwealth countries and also in the United States.
British newspapers have been filled with paeans to the Queen, and editorials urging the public to show its gratitude for her long reign.
After the three-day extravaganza, the Queen is expected to turn her attention to the horse-racing season and her lengthy summer holiday in Scotland.
For many others, the celebrations continued thanks to another royal institution – the Queen’s birthday honours list.
Veteran Scottish rocker Rod Stewart, who received a knighthood, was one of more than 1000 people to receive awards.
Other recipients included 99-year-old singer Dame Vera Lynn, who entertained British troops during World War II (Order of the Companions of Honour); Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station (Companion of the order of St Michael and St George); England cricket captain Alastair Cook, former England football player Alan Shearer (Commander of the Order of the British Empire); and tennis player Jamie Murray – brother of Andy – is made a member of the order.
Today, the Queen will attend the Trooping the Colour, which will be followed by a Royal Air Force flypast over Buckingham Palace.
To conclude the celebrations, the monarch will host The Patrons Lunch for 10,000 guests – the largest street party ever to be held on the Mall.
The guests will come from some of the more than 600 charities and other organisations of which she is patron, with the festivities beamed to large screens in the capital’s parks.