Queen Elizabeth's Dogs

Happy ‘official’ birthday to Queen Elizabeth who has been spending lockdown in Windsor Castle with Prince Philip.

The 94-year-old monarch has made her first official public appearance since cocooning to attend her own official birthday celebrations, normally held two months after her actual birthday in April, and marked by the Trooping the Colour parade.

The royal event could not take place ‘in its traditional form’ this year due to the global health crisis, and the new social distancing measures meant it was a low-key affair.

Pic: Joanne Davidson / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

The Queen attended the socially-distanced military ceremony in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle.

Very much a highlight of the royal calendar, the Queen’s official birthday celebrations would normally be a much grander affair.

Other members of the royal family would normally be in attendance, while thousands of royal fans would line the streets for the parade down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace.

In a break from tradition, Queen Elizabeth was the only royal to attend the military ceremony in person this year.

Pic: Toby Melville / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

The always-colourful monarch choose a striking shade of turquoise for the special day.

The ceremony was carried out by a detachment of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. According to sources, they only had a mere two weeks to prepare when they would usually have months.

Yet the Queen was seen smiling at the soldiers during the ceremony, so obviously they did the job.

Prince Philip celebrated his 99th birthday this week, and BBC One commentators speculated whether he would be watching from a window yonder.

Pic: Joanne Davidson / POOL / AFP via Getty Images

While we didn’t see any curtains twitching, the Queen herself seemed to really enjoy herself, with the sun even making an appearance for the day that was in it.

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