Queen Elizabeth II turns 90 on Thursday, April 21st. She was born in 1926. She is already the longest-serving monarch in British history and now also the oldest monarch. After her father died on February 2nd 1952, she was crowned Queen at a coronation ceremony on June 2nd 1953. She promised to serve “her people” for her whole life. She meant that she would serve the people of Britain as well as the Commonwealth countries. She still performs most of her duties as Queen although recently her son Charles, and her grandson William, have taken her place on some occasions.
The Queen is staying at Windsor Castle at the moment. Windsor is just outside London. On Thursday, she will walk in the streets in Windsor. That evening, she will light the first of 1,000 beacons. These are lights that will be all over Britain. Her whole family will join her that evening. The following day, President Obama and his wife will join the Queen for lunch at Windsor.
Other celebrations are planned. On the evenings of May 12th to 15th, the first public celebration will be a show of 900 horses and 1,500 riders and performers. June 10th is a Thanksgiving service in St Paul’s cathedral. June 11th is the famous Trooping of the Colour where the Queen inspects her soldiers at the Horse Guards parade grounds. The royal family will travel there by carriage so that people can see them. Then the royal family will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. On June 12th there will be a street party for 10,000 people in the Mall in London.
A documentary about the Queen at 90 will be shown on Prime at 7.30pm on Thursday.
For more about the Queen, listen to September 10th 2015.
Go to celebrations for more about the public birthday.
Vocabulary
• monarch – king or queen
• coronation ceremony – in Westminster Abbey when the crown was placed on her head
• Commonwealth countries – countries which used to be part of the British Empire
• The Mall – a long, wide street in the centre of London which leads to Buckingham Palace
Note these idioms: The Queen turns 90; have taken her place