Why The Queen Gets To Have Two Birthdays

The Queen's birthday doesn't just get celebrated on the actual day – HRH gets to have two birthdays, and here's why.

Queen Elizabeth II may officially be turning 96 today, 21 April, but the celebrations are only just beginning.

Since taking to the throne in 1952, the monarch has always had her birthday celebrated twice, however, it's not just Queen Elizabeth II who has had double the amount of celebrations.

And the reason behind it couldn't be more British.

As well as having a celebration in honour of the Queen today, another one will officially take place in June.

King George II first begun the dual celebrations in 1748.

He wanted to hold a public celebration, however, because of his birthday falling in the wintry month of November, he decided to throw a public event in the summer in the hopes of having better weather and a private one for the actual date.

The official summer birthday celebration for King George II took the form of the UK's annual military parade.

For more than 250 years the tradition has continued. However, the coronavirus pandemic prevented the Queen's June celebration, called Trooping the Colour, from going ahead as usual in both 2020 and 2021.

The event is set to go ahead this year on 2 June.

"1st Battalion Irish Guards will Troop their Colour in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen on Thursday 2nd June 2022. Taking part will be up to 1450 soldiers of the Household Division and The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, along with up to 400 musicians from the Massed Bands. 200 soldiers from the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards will line The Mall," the Army's website states.

The Royal Family official website detailed: "The occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at midday: a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park, and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London.

"Over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together each June in a great display of military precision, horsemanship and fanfare to mark The Queen's official birthday."

Members of the public can apply for tickets to see the parade via a ballot on the Army's website.

Ticket prices range from £10 standing to £30 seated.

If you don't manage to bag a ticket, then 'a limited view can be obtained by standing on The Mall or on the edge of St James's Park overlooking Horse Guards' from 9.00am. It will begin at 10.00am and finish by 12.25pm.

If you're in the UK, you can also catch it on the BBC being live broadcasted.

While Queen Elizabeth II tends to celebrate her actual birthday in private, it is also marked publicly.

And this year Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her 96th birthday at her Norfolk estate, Sandringham.