When is H.M. Queen's Birthday?
The Queen's Birthday holiday is a moveable feast celebrating the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II who is not only Queen of Great Britain but also Queen of 16 out of the 53 countries in the commonwealth.
In most Commonwealth countries that observe this holiday, it is celebrated on the Monday after the Saturday in June that is designated as the official holiday observance in the United Kingdom. Generally, it is the second Saturday in June.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of the House of Windsor was born on April 21st 1926.
If a British monarch has a birthday that doesn't fall in the summer months, they can have a second official birthday. This tradition was started in 1748 by King George II, who was born in November. The date change is because having a summer birthday means a higher chance of good weather during the Trooping the Colour parade for the monarch's birthday.
In 1952, after the death of her father, King George VI, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and was known thereafter as Queen Elizabeth II.
Did you know?
Queen Elizabeth II got her driver’s licence before the second world war and is still an active driver.
The Queen is the monarch of 16 countries, the United Kingdom and 15 commonwealth realms.
British commemorations usually take place on the second Saturday in June. In London, a large military parade called Trooping the Colour is held in the morning. The Queen and other members of the royal family take part in the ceremony, which ends with a fly-past from the Royal Air Force. The royal family watch the fly-past from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.
While lacking the pomp and pageantry of the June celebrations, The Queen's real birthday in April is marked by a midday gun salute. Forty-one guns fire in Hyde Park in London, 21 in Windsor Great Park in Windsor, and 62 at the Tower of London.
