Queen Elizabeth’s 96th birthday marked with gun salutes

LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 96th birthday at her Sandringham property on Thursday as gun salutes rang out throughout London and Windsor and army bands performed “Completely satisfied Birthday”.

Britain’s longest serving monarch, who celebrates a historic platinum jubilee this yr, was pictured with two white ponies in a photograph launched for the event.

Authorities ministers joined members of the royal household in sending their greatest needs to the queen, who has stepped again from most public duties this yr over issues about her well being.

She has travelled from Windsor Fort, west of London, to spend her birthday at her property in Sandringham, Norfolk.

“An inspiration to so many throughout the UK, the Commonwealth and the world, it is notably particular to be celebrating on this Platinum Jubilee yr,” her grandson Prince William and his spouse Kate stated on Twitter.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who’s visiting India, wished the queen a cheerful birthday and paid a “heartfelt tribute” to her “70 years of devoted and faultless service to our nation and the Commonwealth” in a video message.

Toymaker Mattel launched a commemorative Barbie doll of the queen wearing an ivory robe with a blue sash and sporting her marriage ceremony tiara to mark the jubilee.

Elizabeth grew to become the queen of Britain and greater than a dozen different realms together with Canada, Australia and New Zealand on the dying of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, whereas she was in Kenya on a global tour.

The information was damaged to her by her husband Prince Philip, who died final yr aged 99 after greater than seven a long time by her facet.

When she ascended the throne, Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong and Harry Truman have been operating the Soviet Union, China and america, respectively, whereas Winston Churchill was British prime minister.

Elizabeth has largely averted the general public highlight after spending an evening in hospital in October for an unspecified ailment and being ordered to relaxation. She examined constructive for COVID-19 in February and has stated she was left very drained.

She has missed occasions together with the Remembrance Sunday gathering and Easter service, however she joined different members of her household and dignitaries at a memorial service for her husband at London’s Westminster abbey final month.

Reporting by Kate Holton and Paul Sandle; Enhancing by Jane Merriman and Alex Richardson

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