The traditional

Nonogenarian Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip celebrate birthdays in style

LONDON: Prince William, Prince Harry and the duchess of Cambridge led the arrivals at St Paul’s Cathedral as they joined hundreds of politicians and dignitaries in supporting Queen Elizabeth and the royal family for a thanksgiving service to launch the queen’s 90th birthday celebrations.

The queen is celebrating her official birthday with a three-day series of festivities.

It started with a special ceremony at St Paul’s yesterday.

The monarch and her husband Prince Philip, who celebrated his 95th birthday yesterday, attended a televised service of thanksgiving.

Young royals including princesses Beatrice and Eugenie arrived alongside the likes of David Attenborough, former prime ministers John Major and Tony Blair and television commentator Clare Balding for the ceremony, which was led by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

After the service, the queen, accompanied by the duke of Edinburgh, the prince of Wales and the duchess of Cornwall, hosted visiting governors-general for lunch at Buckingham Palace.

Although her birthday was on April 21, the royal family

Trooping the

will mark the official 90th birthday with pomp and pageantry in London this weekend.

The traditional Trooping the Colour parade will be held today, the queen’s official birthday. The event is expected to draw throngs of Britons and visitors to Buckingham Palace.

The precision military event will see 1 400 soldiers, 200 horses and more than 400 musicians turn out at Horse Guards’ Parade with the queen attending to inspect the troops.

It has been part of the monarch’s birthday celebrations since the mid-1700s and will feature a fly-past by the Royal Air Force at 1pm.

Thousands are expected to line the streets around Horse Guards’ Parade to see the pomp and pageantry.

A flotilla will sail down the Thames today.

More than 30 vessels, including the queen’s barge Gloriana and Dunkirk little ships will join in the procession.

The festivities will culminate with a street party on The Mall, which will see some 10 000 enjoy a picnic lunch and a special parade.

Tickets were drawn by ballot because of the huge interest expressed by the public. They have now all been allocated. – Daily Mail

Well wishers wait for the royal family to arrive at St Paul’s in London.