Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 96th birthday on Thursday April 21 at her property in Sandringham, Norfolk, as gun salutes rang out in London and Windsor and military bands played “Happy Birthday”.
The Royal Palace published on Wednesday for the occasion an unusual photo of the sovereign showing her in the gardens of Windsor between two white ponies. “An inspiration to so many across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world. This Platinum Jubilee is an all the more special celebration,” his grandson Prince William and his wife Kate said on Twitter.
A Barbie doll in the likeness of the queen.
Government ministers also joined members of the Royal Family in sending their best wishes to the Queen. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, visiting India, wished the Queen a happy birthday and paid a “heartfelt tribute” to her “70 years of dedicated and unstinting service to our country and the Commonwealth” in a video message. Moreover, toymaker Mattel has launched a commemorative Barbie doll with the likeness of the Queenwearing an ivory dress, a blue scarf, and sporting her wedding tiara.
A tired queen
Queen Elizabeth inherited the throne of Great Britain and more than a dozen other kingdoms, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952, while in Kenya on an international tour. The news was told to her by her husband, Prince Philip, who died last year at the age of 99 after more than seven decades by her side.
The Queen has stepped back from most public engagements this year for health reasons. She tested positive for COVID-19 in February and said she felt very tired.
