This year, the Queen is marking her Platinum Jubilee and celebrating 70 years of her reign. The 96-year-old monarch and her family will also attend the first Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace since 2019.
It’s a jovial time for the Commonwealth as it marks Elizabeth as the longest reigning monarch in history.
The festivities are also a time to celebrate her 96th birthday, but keen royal watchers will know that the Queen’s actual date of birth is April 21st – so why does the blue-blooded matriarch celebrate two birthdays?
The Queen first celebrated her 96th birthday this year in April.
(Image: Getty)Well, the answer comes down to a very reasonable detail.
In 1778, King George II decided it would be fit to combine his birthday party with the yearly summer military march.
The idea was that his official birthday in October, which falls during British autumn, wasn’t ideal weather for the United Kingdom.
For practical reasons merging it with the march in summer meant spirits would be high, and George could have an excuse for two days dedicated in his honour – and the tradition stuck.
The two birthdays tradition dates back to 1778.
(Image: Getty)The Queen opts for a private celebration on her actual birthday, and then in June the horse procession is brought together for the highly anticipated Trooping the Colour.
It’s a notable occasion that sees high ranking members of the royal family join the monarch on the Buckingham Palace balcony to wave at the crowd below.
However, Town and Country note that only working royals will stand on the balcony this year. This comes after long running reports Elizabeth’s successor Prince Charles wants to streamline the monarchy when he becomes King.
Prince Charles will most likely carry on the tradition as his birthday is in November.
(Image: Getty)It’s also likely that when Charles takes on the throne, this tradition will live on as his birthday falls in the cold month of November.
However when Prince William takes his father’s place, his June 21 birthday will fit perfectly with his Jubilee ceremonies.
So, while the Queen doesn’t have two birthdays for fun, she has inherited a legacy that means Jubilees can keep its festive spirit regardless of when a ruler’s birthday falls.
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