Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A birthday like no oth Er Make a choccy cake that’s fit for a royal..
As the Queen turns 95 alone we look at the previous milestones
THE Queen turns 95 today, with the first birthday in over 70 years that she will spend without her husband Prince Philip, who died 12 days ago aged 99.
And as coronavirus restrictions continue it is unclear who, if anyone, will be allowed to mark this poignant milestone with her.
Even the traditional gun salute will be silenced as the period of royal mourning for Philip lasts until tomorrow.
So, as the Queen prepares to celebrate a birthday like no other, we look back at some of her most memorable birthday moments...
FIRST BIRTHDAY
The Queen spent her first birthday with her grandmother Queen Mary at Windsor Castle while her parents continued a lengthy tour of Fiji, New Zealand and Australia in 1927.
10TH BIRTHDAY
To mark reaching double figures in 1936, she received a miniature car, a bicycle, a big doll, books, a riding crop and furniture for her doll’s house. She spent the morning riding her white pony, Snowball, before an afternoon party.
THE TEEN YEARS
Turning 14 in 1940, the young Elizabeth posed for a photo with her family at Windsor Castle.
Royal commentator Marcia Moody said: “It was her first birthday since the country had gone to war, and the family portrait would likely to have been to remind the British public that there was a stable and reassuring family unit at the head of the country.”
She devoted her 16th birthday to her duties and carried out her first engagement as honorary Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
She inspected the soldiers with her father, King George VI, and later attended a reception with entertainers including Vera Lynn.
As a gift on her 18th birthday she was given her first corgi, named Susan.
21ST BIRTHDAY
Elizabeth spent her 21st birthday on tour in South Africa with her parents and sister Margaret. She made a speech dedicating her life to the commonwealth, saying: “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service.”
Her father had made her wait until she turned 21 to announce her engagement to Prince Philip – which she did in July 1947, three months after her birthday.
50TH BIRTHDAY
A set of family photos marked the milestone in 1976. As well as a dinner for family and friends, the Queen hosted a ball for 500 people. A year later she celebrated her Silver Jubilee.
60TH BIRTHDAY
On the big day in 1986 the Queen appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, who got married later that year. They were greeted
with delight and 6,000 children holding daffodils sang Happy Birthday to the Queen.
70TH BIRTHDAY
The big day came just months after Princess Diana’s explosive Panorama interview, and the palace decided to keep a low profile.
Even the Queen’s planned birthday dinner at the Waterside Inn in Bray, Berkshire, had to be cancelled after plans were leaked to a newspaper. So the meal was transferred to Frogmore House instead.
80TH BIRTHDAY
In 2006 the Queen carried out a traditional 45-minute walkabout down the main high street in Windsor in front of crowds of 20,000 well-wishers. Prince Charles made a televised tribute to his mother, saying she was “an example to so many of service, duty and devotion in a world of sometimes bewildering change and disorientation”.
Fans of the royal also showered her with 20,000 cards and 17,000 emails.
In the evening she attended a black-tie dinner of smoked salmon, venison and chocolate cake in Kew Palace, which was hosted by Prince Charles.
90TH BIRTHDAY
In 2016 the Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate her 90th birthday.
Thousands of well-wishers lined the streets as a national service of thanksgiving was held at St Paul’s Cathedral.
The Queen lit the first of hundreds of beacons set up across the country and overseas to mark the day.
94TH BIRTHDAY
Last year heralded a break from birthday traditions due to the pandemic.
The Queen’s birthdays are usually marked by gun salutes in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.
But in 2020, for the first time since she began her reign, they did not go ahead.
The Queen was adamant that there “would be no special measures which would go against government coronavirus restrictions”.
Instead, she and Prince Philip spent lockdown at Windsor Castle together and marked the Queen’s milestone in private – with a slice of her favourite chocolate cake.
Her Majesty was sorely missed by other members of her family. Royal author Leslie Carroll said at the time: “Both William and
Kate are very close to their respective families, so it must be extremely difficult for them not to see them, and for their children not to be able to spend time with them as well.”
Instead, the Queen enjoyed several video calls with family members.
And as lockdown continues, this seems likely to be the case today, too.
FORMER royal chef Darren Mcgrady reveals the Queen’s favourite chocolate cake recipe, dating back to 1899.
INGREDIENTS
Sponge:
6 egg yolks
2 eggs
4 oz granulated sugar 2 oz flour
1 oz Dutch cocoa powder 2 oz melted butter
The topping and filling:
1 pint heavy cream
1 lb Ghirardelli dark chocolate
METHOD
1. Melt 8oz of chocolate and bring to the boil a half pint of the cream.
2. Pour the cream onto the chocolate and whisk it until smooth, then refrigerate until set.
3. In a mixing bowl add the eggs, yolks and sugar, then whisk. Place over a bowl of hot water to allow the mixture to heat up.
4. Sieve the flour and cocoa and set aside.
5. Whisk the egg mixture then fold in the butter and flour mixture.
6. Spoon the mix into the cake tin and bake at 180C for 20 minutes.
7. While the sponge cools, melt the remaining 8oz of chocolate and bring the remaining half pint of cream to the boil.
8. Pour the cream on to the chocolate and whisk it until smooth and then set aside off the heat.
9. Slice the sponge into three discs and spread the filling onto the bottom two discs and reassemble.
10. Add the remaining chocolate mix to the hot topping and whisk in.
11. Place the sponge back onto a cooling wire and ladle the topping over the sponge allowing it to run down the sides. Cool the cake for at least 2 hours before decorating with chocolate and serving.