Dean of the world of monarchs in office, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 96th birthday on Thursday, in privacy. London, meanwhile, celebrated its sovereign with cannon fire and military bands playing ‘Happy Birthday’.
Now largely withdrawn from public life due to mobility problems, the sovereign, who passed the milestone of 70 years of reign in February, chose to celebrate this anniversary in the calm of the royal estate of Sandringham, 200 kilometers to the north. from London. of the royal estate of Sandringham, 200 kilometers north of London. According to the press, she spends a few days at Wood Farm, a relatively modest house loved by her husband Philip, who died last year at 99.
Hundreds of people, however, gathered outside Windsor Castle (west London) where she usually resides. A Coldstream Guards marching band, in red tunics and black bearskin caps, played ‘Happy Birthday’ there, and dozens of cannon fire rang out at midday, including in Hyde Park, along with another marching band .
Various tributes
For the occasion, Buckingham Palace published a photo taken last month, showing the sovereign in a dark green capeline coat, holding by the bridle in the gardens of Windsor two white Fell ponies, a breed from the north of England. A Barbie doll bearing her image was also put up for sale, wearing an ivory dress, a large blue ribbon and a small tiara.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to the sovereign on Twitter, referring to ’70 years of impeccable devotion’. His grandson William and his wife Kate hailed ‘an inspiration to so many in the UK, the Commonwealth and the world’.
/ATS