Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 91st birthday

London April 21 (IANS) Britain s Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 91st birthday on Friday an occasion that was marked by ceremonial gun salutes and Buckingham Palace releasing a photograph of her as a baby.

An image posted on Twitter by the Palace showed the Queen as a baby being held in the arms of her mother Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon under the gaze of her father King George VI at her christening one month after she was born Efe news reported.

As per tradition the King s Troop Royal Horse Artillery staged a 41-gun salute in London s Hyde Park in honour of the Queen who celebrated her birthday privately at Windsor Castle.

The Honourable Artillery Company meanwhile performed a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London on the banks of the River Thames.

The Queen is the world s longest reigning living monarch and celebrated 65 years on the throne on February 6 thus becoming the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee.

Born on April 21 1926 the Queen usually celebrates her birthday twice: on the day of her actual birthday and in June during an official military parade known as the Trooping of the Colour.

This year s parade is to take place on June 10 two days after the snap election announced this week by the UK government.

The General Election will be the 17th such election to take place under Queen Elizabeth II s reign.

--IANS
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