Queen Elizabeth celebrates her official birthday with Parade

The Monarch celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on (usually) the second Saturday in June.

The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on (usually) the second Saturday in June.

Find out why➡️https://t.co/YiOiijgG5s pic.twitter.com/rve9cLTwDQ

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 12, 2021

This year’s Trooping the Colour departed from tradition, as the annual ceremony is usually held on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace. In keeping with COVID restrictions, the number of military personnel taking part in the birthday parade was scaled back.

The Queen’s Colour of F Company Scots Guards was trooped to mark the occasion. The Royal Family shared gorgeous photos from the ceremony on its official social media handles.

The Queen's Colour of F Company Scots Guards @scots_guards was trooped at The Queen's Birthday Parade 2021.

Whilst the format was a little different this year, #TroopingtheColour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. pic.twitter.com/BER4eyoa7J

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 12, 2021

Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. The parade closed with a fly-past and a 41 Gun Royal Salute by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

Today is The Queen's Official Birthday🎈

A military parade held by @Householddiv is taking place in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle to mark the occasion. pic.twitter.com/G9B9S7Bduu

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 12, 2021

Official celebrations to mark the Sovereigns' birthday have often been held on a day other than the actual birthday, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer.

The Queen's Birthday Parade 2021 closed with a magnificent fly-past by the @rafredarrows and a 41 Gun Royal Salute by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery 🇬🇧 #WindsorCastle pic.twitter.com/63xGuK9FRy

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 12, 2021

The Queen usually spends her actual birthday privately, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at midday: a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London.

In 2006, Her Majesty celebrated her 80th Birthday in 2006 with a walkabout in the streets outside of Windsor Castle to meet well-wishers.

On her official birthday, Her Majesty is joined by other members of the Royal Family at the spectacular Trooping the Colour parade, which moves between Buckingham Palace, The Mall and Horseguards’ Parade, and a public appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.