Queen celebrates her 91st birthday

THE Queen celebrated her 91st birthday today and was expected to spend the anniversary privately.

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 2.40am on April 21 1926, the first child of the then Duke and Duchess of York, at 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair.

The Queen traditionally has two birthdays, her actual birthday and an official one marked every summer by the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The decision to give monarchs two birthdays dates back to Edward VII, who was born on November 9 but celebrated the birthday in May and June, as the weather was better during these months for outdoor events.

Subsequent monarchs helpfully had birthdays at more convenient times of the year but the Queen’s father, King George VI, reintroduced the tradition which she has continued.