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Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!

Although she was born on April 21, the official birthday of Queen Elizabeth II is celebrated each year on a weekend in mid-June for purely practical reasons. The day usually presents more acceptable weather for a public party!

In the UK, the most important and watched event related to the day is the lively and historic military ceremony known as Trooping the Colour - with a parade down The Mall to Horse Guards Parade, including a fly-past of military aircraft - as well as gun salutes fired at noon at Hyde Park.

Events related to the Queen's Birthday are scheduled throughout Great Britain as well as in New Zealand (first monday in June), Australia (second Monday in June), Canada, (on the last weekend in May, "Victoria Day") Gibraltar, Bermuda and Fiji.

Around the Web

Around the Web, find out more at top sites offering facts, information, picture galleries and historical background celebrating the life and times of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II ...

A Life in Pictures - From Princess to Queen - The official British Monarchy web site with a full gallery of Queen Elizabeth photos from childhood to the present.

Queen at 80 - BBC special presentation on the Queen's 80th birthday in 2006 with a retrospective of her life in pictures, video clips, interactive timeline, news on Windsor Castle celebrations, and reports on a newly commissioned portrait and postage stamp.

Trooping of the Colour (The Queen's Birthday Parade) - History, tradition and customs surrounding the annual celebration held at Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall with related pictures.

Sovereign's Official Birthday, Trooping the Colours, Queen's Birthday - Kid-friendly cartoon plus facts & information on the celebration including origins and history, customs & ceremonies.

Trooping the Colour - Photos from the Queen's Birthday Parade - Take the virtual tour in a large photo collection courtesy of UKStudentLife.com.

Queen's Birthday - How it's celebrated in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and at other points around the globe, from Wikipedia.

Queen Cakes - The complete recipe for celebrating the Queen's Birthday Weekend in Australlia. Serve with tea and your best royal china ....

also see -> The Emperor's Birthday (Japan)

also see in Travel -> London Tourist Attractions