Queen’s 90th birthday: when is it and how will we celebrate?

THURSDAY MAY 12 TO SUNDAY MAY 15: QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS The Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations looked at her life, love of horses, dedication to the Commonwealth and involvement with

Britain’s armed forces.  More than 900 Horses and 1,500 participants, including actors, musicians and dancers, told the story of her life during four perfomances at Windsor Castle.  Pop

princess Kylie Minogue, TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh, singer Katherine Jenkins and actress Helen Mirren were among the many celebrities at the celebrations.  SUNDAY JUNE 5: CHARITY GALA

CELEBRATES QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY A Right Royal Knees Up charity gala will celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday at Theatre Royal Haymarket in London on Sunday June 5. The gala also marks the first

meeting of the Royal Theatrical Fund (RTF), which has Elizabeth II as its patron.   Michael Palin, Emma Thompson, Dame Judi Dench and Joanna Lumley are among the artists that have agreed to

take part in the event.  FRIDAY JUNE 10: SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING  A televised service of thanksgiving will be held at St Paul's Cathedral to kick off a weekend of celebrations to mark

the Queen’s official birthday. It is the Duke of Edinburgh’s 95th birthday on Friday June 10 but he has stressed that the focus should remain on Her Majesty.  SATURDAY JUNE 11: QUEEN’S

OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY  The Queen’s official birthday is always marked with a traditional military parade known as Trooping the Colour.  Elizabeth II will travel by carriage from Buckingham

Palace to inspect her personal troops in Horse Guards Parade in a televised ceremony at 10am.  The Royal family will then appear on the balcony of the palace to watch a fly-past at 1pm. 

SUNDAY JUNE 12: PATRON’S LUNCH STREET PARTY  The Mall outside Buckingham Palace will be turned into a huge street party with a picnic and street performances for 10,000 guests.   Most

tickets have gone to organisations of which the Queen is patron. But there will also be big screens in St James' Park and Green Park on the day. Royalists around the country are

planning to get together to hold their own street parties to celebrate the Queen's birthday on this date.