Who Joined Queen Elizabeth At Her Birthday Parade?
Queen Elizabeth II turned 95 on April 21, but tradition dictates that she celebrates her official birthday on the second Saturday of June. According to BBC, King Edward VII decided it would be wise for the reigning monarch's official birthday to be combined with an annual summer military event. Since his own birthday was in November, he figured that the public would enjoy a celebration in the warmer weather. Thus, the birthday parade tradition was born. The queen's birthday parade is usually a festive event with at least 1,400 soldiers, 400 musicians, and 200 horses taking part in the action. However, this year's celebration was significantly scaled down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Just like in 2020, the activities were toned down because of COVID-19 restrictions. The outlet reports that, in addition to the usual Trooping the Colour fanfare, Queen Elizabeth II's birthday parade would also be "formed by soldiers who have played an integral role in the NHS COVID-19 response, as well as those who have been serving on military operations overseas." The queen's official birthday also differed in one key respect. This was the first time that she did not have her spouse of 70 years by her side. She's still in mourning after the death of Prince Philip, but in typical British fashion, she kept her chin up as the mini-celebration continued. Keep reading to find out who supported the monarch.