How old is the Queen and why does she have two birthdays?
QUEEN Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning female monarch in world history. Her Majesty will celebrate her official birthday with a mini Trooping the Colour at Windsor Castle on June 12, 2021. The Queen has two birthday celebrations each year: one on her actual birth date, and the other on her official birthday - a public celebration. Her real birthday is in April and an "official" celebration takes place in June. This is because of how temperamental the British weather is. The tradition for monarchs to have two birthdays was started by George II back in 1748. At the time George was born in November and thought it was too cold to host an annual parade at that time. He decided his birthday festivities would be combined with a military parade known as Trooping the Colour, which was held in spring. The tradition for two separate birthdays continues to this day. Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926, but her second birthday date changes every year. It is usually held on a Saturday in June, often the second weekend, for convenience. The official birthday is still celebrated by the Trooping the Colour procession. Her Majesty is joined by other members of the Royal Family at the parade, which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horseguards Parade. She also makes a public appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. In April 2021, the Queen said her final goodbye to her husband, Prince Philip, just days before her 95th birthday. The Queen is 95, making her the oldest monarch to have reigned in Britain with second place going to Queen Victoria who lived to the age of 81. She is also the oldest reigning female monarch in world history. Many will remember the Queens 90th festivities as one of the highlights of 2016. Apart from when it is a milestone celebration, the Queen traditionally spends her actual birthday privately. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA'AM Beaming Queen watches mini Trooping the Colour at Windsor for birthday RAPIER WIT Queen cheekily refuses knife & cuts cake with SWORD saying 'it's more unusual' GONG COVID Britains 'everyday heroes' honoured by the Queen for their work fighting Covid SHOUT IT OUT Lulu, Prue Leith & Ruth Wilson among stars given gongs in Birthday Honours OH JOE! Over the summer of 2017 speculation grew that the Queen could stand down, effectively giving Prince Charles the throne. The monarch was reported to have told her inner circle she would request the Regency Act be activated if she was still on the throne at the age of 95. However, the speculation appeared to be quashed a week later when sources close to Her Majesty told The Sunday Times she had no intention of stepping aside for Prince Charles. They added that the Queen was as committed as ever to her duty. The throne will pass to Prince Charles if the Queen abdicates, retires or dies. From Princess Elizabeth to The Queen: the monarch over the decades  20 Princess Elizabeth aged two in 1928 Credit: Getty - Contributor  20 Surrounded by flowers on July 8, 1941, at the age of 15, at Windsor Castle in Berkshire Credit: Getty - Contributor  20 Princess Elizabeth, writing at her desk at Windsor Castle, on May 30, 1944, aged 18 Credit: Getty - Contributor  20 Princess Elizabeth, 22, holding Prince Charles after his christening ceremony at Buckingham Palace, December 15, 1948 Credit: PA:Press Association  20 A picture of Queen Elizabeth II - then Princess Elizabeth - dancing, aged 25, at Government House in Ottawa as she takes part in the country square dances during her tour of Canada with Prince Philip, October 18, 1951 Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd  20 At the inauguration of the CANTAT (Canadian Trans-Atlantic Telephone) cable the Queen, 35, makes the first call to Ottawa from London in December 1961 Credit: PA:Press Association  20 Queen Elizabeth, 45, enjoys a night at the Royal Festival Hall in London, June 1971 Credit: Rex Features  20 The Queen, 55, smiles during an inspection as she tours New Zealand on October 01, 1981 Credit: Getty - Contributor  20 Seen in a silk dress designed by Hardy Amies in Washington, May 15, 1991, aged 65 Credit: Getty - Contributor  20 The Queen attending a banquet, Guernsey, in July 2001, aged 75 Credit: Tim Graham - Getty  20 Celebrating her 80th birthday at the Ritz Hotel, London, the Queen is pictured with the Duke of Edinburgh on December 5, 2006 Credit: Tim Graham  20 The Queen laughing with Prince Charles as they watch competitors during the Braemar Gathering at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park on September 2, 2006, in Braemar, Scotland Credit: Getty - Contributor  20 Awaiting the arrival of Turkey's President at an official ceremony on November 22, 2011, in London - aged 85 Credit: Getty - Pool  20 In 2012, the Queen was joking with the Duchess of Cambridge during a Diamond Jubilee visit to Nottingham Credit: Getty - Pool  20 Enjoying a joke with the Duchess of Sussex on June 14, 2018, in Cheshire, aged 92 Credit: Getty Images - Getty  20 The Queen, 93, attending a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, July 3 2019, with, from left, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne Credit: AFP  20 Pictured on July 9, 2019, in Cambridge, the Queen, 93, visited the National Institute of Agricultural Botany Credit: Getty - Contributor  A Very Royal Wedding reveals all about the the Queen's big day  We pay for your stories! 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