As the nation prepares to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday this weekend with pomp, pageantry and Union Jacks aplenty, we take a look at the calendar of official events to mark her milestone birthday, from a traditional service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral to a street party on The Mall for 10,000 guests
Friday 10 June 2016
Following a televised service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch will host visiting Governors-General for lunch at Buckingham Palace. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other members of the Royal Family will separately join guests from the service at London’s Guildhall. Coincidentally, it is also the Duke of Edinburgh’s 95th birthday on Friday but he has emphasised that the focus should remain on Her Majesty.
Saturday June 11 2016: the Queen’s official birthday
The Queen’s official birthday is always marked with Trooping the Colour. Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and other royals, the Queen will watch the Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade, before joining a carriage procession back to the Palace, where the family – it is hoped Princess Charlotte will make a public appearance – will appear on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony to watch a fly-past at 1pm.
Sunday June 12 2016
The finale of the official celebrations is a classic British ‘street party’ the full length of The Mall, the iconic stretch leading up to the Palace, for 10,000 guests – a hamper-style lunch that has been organised by the Queen’s eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips, to celebrate the Queen’s patronage of more than 600 charities and organisations. A carnival-style parade will entertain guests – with Union Jacks aplenty – and the Queen and Philip will take to a stage at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the Palace to listen to speeches, before sitting in a royal box with the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Joint Presidents of the Patron’s Lunch.
Monday June 13 2016
The Queen will resume regular engagements as she attends the Service for the Order of the Garter at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Tuesday June 14-18 2016
The weekend’s celebrations are rounded off when the Queen attends Royal Ascot (above). This year is particularly significant as the Gold Cup on Ladies’ Day will be renamed The Gold Cup in Honour of the Queen’s 90th Birthday.
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