Queen’s big party goes off with a bang!
What a racket! Prince Philip covers his ears as the Queen’s 90th birthday party in the grounds of Windsor Castle is launched with an artillery salute
THE Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations continued with a bang yesterday – and only the 90-year-old Monarch seemed unfazed.
As the rest of her family jumped out of their seats in the Royal Box at Windsor and put their fingers in their ears, the Queen was unruffled.
The Royals were attending a spectacular equine-themed show, featuring stars of stage and screen, in the grounds of the castle to mark her landmark birthday.
The celebration included majestic displays of famous horse troupes, both military and civilian, from across the globe and other performances featuring four-legged animals. Among the famous faces appearing were Kylie Minogue, Dame Helen Mirren and Dame Shirley Bassey, with Geordie duo Ant and Dec hosting the show.
For her special night, the Queen surrounded herself with familiar faces – and some not-so-familiar ones too.
In the front row of the Royal Box were many of her immediate family – Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.
But also seated in prime position were the King of Bahrain – a controversial figure but a close friend of the Royal Family – and Prince Donatus, Landgrave of Hesse (on Kate’s left) and his wife, the Landgravine (between Prince William and Prince Harry).
Prince Donatus is a great-greatgreat grandson of Queen Victoria, through his paternal grandfather Philipp’s mother Margaret, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
Also in the Royal Box was the Countess of Wessex and her son
‘The happiest of very special birthdays’
James, Viscount Severn – who executed a beautiful bow as his grandmother entered the seating area – Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and the Queen’s adored niece, Lady Sarah Chatto, and her family.
Princess Anne and Prince Edward were noticeably missing but they were to make a appearance later in the show, along with the Queen’s grandchildren Zara Tindall and Lady Louise.
Although it was an official celebration of the Queen’s remarkable public life, the show was very much a family celebration, too – with a delighted Kate leaning over and whispering in Prince Philip’s ear. And they all roared with laughter as a giant birthday cake was towed in by car in a remarkable finale. The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday on April 21. Prince Charles wished his mother ‘the happiest of very special birthdays’ in the official programme to mark the event, the culmination of the annual Windsor Horse Show. Charles also paid tribute to the Queen’s passion for all things equine.
Charles, who is patron of the Queen’s 90th Birthday Celebration, wrote: ‘I am delighted that we have
succeeded in bringing together hundreds of members of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and other longstanding overseas friends to mark this special birthday.’
He added: ‘It could not be more fitting that a quite different group which also enjoys the Queen’s unfailing interest and support – horses, of myriad breeds and colour – will join the 600, sailors, soldiers, airmen and women who make up this evening’s celebration.’ The celebrated French horse whisperer, Jean-François Pignon, who was personally requested by the Queen, wowed the crowd by performing tricks with a cute Shetland pony.
The Queen and Philip were the last members of the Royal party to arrive at the event and they were greeted by Charles and Camilla when their horse-drawn carriage arrived.
The heir to the throne kissed his mother on both cheeks and on her gloved hand while his wife curtseyed to the Monarch. Dec told the 6,000 spectators in the stands: ‘Her life has spanned ten decades and historic milestones include one World War, two coronations, man landing on the moon, the dawn of the new millennium, two London Olympic Games and, of course, 287 bush tucker trials.’ Take That star Gary Barlow kicked off the entertainment with a belting performance of the song, Something About This Night.
Famous actors narrated the historic moments from the Queen’s life, starting with Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, who covered the Monarch’s childhood years and introduced his wife Imelda Staunton who performed a song. Dame Helen took the audience through the Queen’s war years and how the nation fought against Nazi tyranny.
The bleak post-war years were brightened by the Royal wedding of the then Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.
The actress went on to describe the young Queen’s coronation on June 2, 1953, and at the end of the sequence mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins gave a rousing rendition of I Vow To Thee My Country.
‘Historic milestones’