God Save the Queen

Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth) taking the salute for the first time in 1951.

This past Saturday, June 12th, 2010, was Queen Elizabeth II's official birthday celebration. The Queen was actually born on April 21st, however it is tradition to publicly celebrate her birthday in June as the weather is much nicer in the United Kingdom.

The Royal Family gathers and along side the public the Trooping the Colour takes place.

The Trooping the Colour is a military ceremony that dates back about three centuries. The Queen is greeted with a Royal salute during the ceremony and the colours (also known as flags) of the battalion are trooped (or carried) down the ranks. The Queen inspects the troops then leads the Guards down The Mall and back to Buckingham Palace.

The events end with a Royal Air Force fly over that The Queen and the Royal Family watch from the balcony.

This past Sunday The Queen celebrated her 81st birthday with her 54th Trooping the Colour (she has reigned for 55 years, but one year the event was cancelled due to a strike). Queen Elizabeth II is one of the longest serving heads of state and a few years ago she became the oldest British monarch in history!

2010 Trooping the Colour