A proud granny on her birthday
Queen gets the clan together for birthday
THE Queen enjoyed a lovely 90th birthday get- together yesterday, with her family . . . and the rest of the country!
Her Majesty was all smiles as she was joined on the balcony of Buckingham Palace by her children and grandchildren.
But all eyes were on little Princess Charlotte as she made her royal debut on the balcony, to mark her greatgrandmother’s official birthday celebrations.
Pretty in pink, the adorable 13-month-old delighted thousands of well-wishers in the Mall marking the Queen’s milestone anniversary.
Carried by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, Charlotte pointed as she spotted the crowds.
The cute princess was joined by the royals – with the Queen in green neon taking centre stage – and her older brother Prince George.
George, who calls the Queen “Gan Gan”, cheekily saluted the impressive RAF flypast following the traditional Trooping of the Colour celebrations in Horse Guard’s Parade yesterday.
Earlier in the day, royal fans were treated to the sight of the Queen and 95- year- old Philip travelling in the Ascot Landau, and the imposing presence of The Sovereign’s Escort, mounted troops from the Life Guards and Blues and Royals.
The procession included the royal colonels on horseback – heir to the throne Charles, who is Colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Princess Royal, Colonel of the Blues and Royals, and William, Colonel of the Irish Guards.
On the parade ground in their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins were the Coldstream, Grenadier and Scots Guards – while the Irish Guards lined the Queen’s processional route from Buckingham Palace.
Almost 1500 officers and men, in immaculate uniforms, were on parade with more than 300 horses featured.
Among them was Britain’s Got Talent winner and Household Cavalry bandsman Richard Jones whose skill as a
magician saw him triumph in the popular show.
Among the audience of thousands watching the spectacle was Second World War veteran Fergus Anckorn, 97.
Mr Anckorn was a prisoner of war and forced to work on the Burma Railway and infamous bridge on the River Kwai.
He said: “It’s great to be here. I’ve never seen Trooping the Colour before.”
The celebrations will continue today with soprano Laura Wright singing the National Anthem on stage in front of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Patron’s Lunch street party.
Heather Gunner, who was born in the same year as Elizabeth II, will join 10,000 revellers at the lunch.
Speaking yesterday Mrs Gunner, 90, of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, said: “I have great admiration for the Queen. I really do. It can’t be easy being a Queen, can it?
“I think she’s coped excellently.”