Queen Elizabeth Broke Birthday Tradition, Celebrated 92nd in Style
On Saturday, April 21, Queen Elizabeth was joined by other members of the royal family for a star-studded 92nd birthday bash in her honor at Royal Albert Hall.
The celebrations began earlier in the day at Buckingham Palace, where the Band of the Irish Guards played “Happy Birthday” during the changing of the guard.
Later in the day, customary gun salutes by the British Army took place, including “a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London.”
Instead of spending her birthday privately, as she has traditionally done over the years, the queen stepped out in the evening to attend a concert put together for her by the BBC, aptly titled “The Queen’s Birthday Celebration.”
As a celebration of the longest-reigning living monarch in British history, the concert featured music from every decade of her reign with an exciting line-up of famed performers from across the Commonwealth including Sting, Sir Tom Jones, Shawn Mendes, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Kylie Minogue, Craig David, and Shaggy.
Members of the royal family in attendance included Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle. Notably absent from the celebration was Prince Philip, who is still in recovery after his April 4 hip replacement surgery. Kate Middleton was also missing, as she is due to give birth to royal baby number three any day now.
Proceeds from the event went to The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust, a new youth charity the queen is the patron of.
During the concert, Prince Harry took the stage to wish his grandmother a happy birthday and to announce the launch of the trust and his role as its president.
“This organization, in your name, will provide a platform for those working to make a difference in their communities across 53 countries. Happy Birthday Your Majesty,” he said.
Prince Charles also stepped up to the mic for a toast alongside the queen, even earning an eye roll from her by addressing her as “Mummy.”
“Your Majesty, Mummy,” he began. “I have a feeling that in 1948 when you were 22, you didn’t somehow expect that on your 92nd birthday you would find your son in his 70th year.
“So I am just able to still raise a small hip hip. Would you ladies and gentlemen? Would you all give Her Majesty three unbelievably rousing cheers on her birthday?”
The queen won’t be breaking all her birthday traditions this year, though. She will have another public celebration on the official birthday of the British sovereign during the Trooping of the Colour in June, a royal tradition put in place by King George II in 1748.
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