A purple inscribed letter addressed to all the people of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern invited an April 21 public celebration of the 90th birthday of the queen of the commonwealth.
Designed and colored in the color designated for royalty, the be-jeweled crown, the Union Jack, and a purple silhouette of Queen Elizabeth II draped and sashed by the date of her birth to the present — 1926- 2016 extended an open invitation that read in purple: “It will be a birthday party fit for queen.”
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth is now a nanogenarian and showing no signs of slowing down.
She celebrated 90 years on earth and managed a full calendar of activities to mark the historic occasion.
On her birthday she was greeted by cheering crowds that lined the streets in Windsor as she walked throughout the streets. Later she lit the first of more than 900 beacons lighting up across the UK and overseas as part of her 90th birthday celebrations.
At the lighting of the beacon, her eldest son Prince Charles said:”I find it very hard to believe that you’ve reached your 90th year and I suddenly realized the other day that I have known you since you were 22 years old.
“But this, ladies and gentleman, is a very special occasion and this beacon that her majesty is about to light will also represent – as it lights other beacons across the nation- the love and affection with which you are held throughout this country and the Commonwealth.
“So can we wish your majesty a special and the most happiest of birthdays on this occasion.”
Members of the army cadet force took beacons to the top of the highest peaks of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to mark the occasion.
Some of the beacons are specially built gas-fuelled structures, while others are traditional bonfires or braziers on top of tall wooden posts.
Royal gun salutes were fired from each of the UK’s capital cities as the queen met crowds of well-wishers in Windsor.
The monarch joined her husband, Prince Philip, her son the Prince of Wales and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall at a private dinner in Windsor Castle afterwards.
Still in her prime she took to social media posting on Twitter, a thanks to her many well wishers who had sent tweets saying “#HappyBirthdayYourMajesty.”
“I send my best wishes to those who are celebrating their 90th birthday… on this shared occasion, I send my warm congratulations to you.”
The Queen, who was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, was presented with a birthday cake at the Guildhall by the Great British Bake Off champion Nadiya Hussain.
On her celebrated day she also unveiled a plaque marking The Queen’s Walkway — a trail that links 63 significant points in Windsor.
The trail was designed to recognize the moment last Sept. 9 when the monarch broke the record held by her great, great, grandmother Queen Victoria who occupied the throne for 63 years and seven months.
Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the occasion in the House of Commons saying she was “a rock of strength for our nation” and the commonwealth.
PM Cameron said: “Her Majesty The Queen has lived through some extraordinary times in our world. From the Second World War… to the rations with which she bought the material for her wedding dress. From presenting the World Cup to England at Wembley Stadium in 1966, to man landing on the moon three years later. From the end of the Cold War to peace in Northern Ireland throughout it all, as the sands of culture shift and the tides of politics ebb and flow, Her Majesty has been steadfast — a rock of strength for our nation, for our Commonwealth and on many occasions for the whole world.”
To coincide with the queen’s birthday, the largest exhibition of her clothes and accessories ever shown in Scotland opened at the Palace of Holyrood House.
The display has been selected to cover the queen’s life and reign, and includes evening and day wear.
The following day President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama joined the Queen for lunch at Windsor Castle.
The leader and his wife were also feted by the queen’s grandsons Prince William and his wife Kate — The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry who hosted a dinner at Kensington Palace.
Every year Elizabeth II celebrates two birthdays — one on her actual birthday in April and the official birthday which is hailed throughout the commonwealth and the UK from June 10–12.
She is the oldest to celebrate 60 years in the crown, second only to Queen Victoria who celebrated the milestone at 77.
She is only one of five other British royals to rule for 50 years or more.
Last year she became the United Kingdom’s longest reigning monarch.
To fully comprehend the magnitude of her accomplishments it should be noted that her coronation was the first to be televised in England. The regal ceremony was watched by a population of 20 million people.
She has been married for 68 years, longer than any other British monarch
She has sat for more than 130 official portrait paintings.
During her reign, she has visited 117 countries, travelling more than a million miles. In 2002, she celebrated 50 years of reign.
In 2012 she became the second British monarch to celebrate a diamond jubilee.
Since taking the throne she has seen the election of 12 U.S. presidents.
There have been seven Roman Catholic popes during her time as monarch.
She has made five official visits to the United States during her reign.
Elizabeth is Queen mother to four children — Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
She is also the proud great grandmother to five with the youngest two being George and Charlotte.
We have always heard that it is “good” to be the King but it must be great to be the Queen — and for so very long.
Only Elizabeth II knows for sure.
