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April 21, 2016:   Queen Elizabeth turns 90.

Queen Elizabeth turns 90: Why does the Queen have TWO birthdays?

The Duke of Cambridge (son of Prince Charles and Diana) has paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on her 90th birthday for helping him cope with the loss of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. "She's been a very strong female influence," Prince William said on Sky News. "And having lost my mother at a young age, it's been particularly important to me that I've had somebody like the Queen to look up to and who's been there and who has understood some of the more, um, complex issues when you lose a loved one." Diana died in 1997 in a Paris automobile crash.
How is the Queen celebrating?
Last year, the Queen gained the title of Britain's longest-ever reigning monarch. On Thursday, she achieved another milestone as the nation's first sovereign to celebrate her 90th birthday. She plans to mark the day with a walkabout near her main residence in Windsor, west of London, before lighting a beacon relay in the evening.
Later in the summer, formal celebrations will be held to mark her "official birthday," culminating with a national service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral and a giant picnic outside Buckingham Palace for 10,000 guests. On Wednesday, the monarch's celebrations began with another first: an official photograph of four generations of royals, featuring three future kings posing at Buckingham Palace. The image of the Queen, and Princes Charles, William and George will be on special stamps issued to mark the Queen's life.It's a milestone for 2-year-old Prince George, who makes his "stamp" debut, his first of many to come, pictured standing on a stack of blocks for a boost.

When are the Queen's birthdays?
The date of the Queen's birth was April 21, but she also has an official birthday on a Saturday in June every year. This year the Queen's official birthday was on Saturday June 11.
Why does the Queen have two birthdays?
The British monarch's birthday celebrations have often been held on a day that is not their actual birthday. The tradition is linked to the unreliable British weather because the Royal family want to hold the grand royal birthday parade in the summer. For example, Edward VII was born on November 9, but his official birthday was always marked in May and June during his reign.
Where did the tradition come from?
It is believed that the tradition started during the reign of King George II in 1748. George II was born in October but the annual summer military cavalcade became a celebration of the king as well as the armed forces.
How is the Queen's birthday celebrated?
The Queen's official birthday is always celebrated with a military parade known as Trooping the Colour on Horse Guards Parade in London After Trooping the Colour, the Royal family traditionally gather to watch a military fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The Queen's Birthday Honours list is published around the time of her official birthday celebration in the summer. Her Majesty's actual birthday tends to be quite a private affair, although gun salutes mark the occasion.

The Queen's official birthday:Queen Elizabeth Celebrates 90th Birthday, Princess Charlotte Makes First Public Appearance

The first letter always represents the Monarch's Christian name; this is always followed by the letter 'R' meaning 'Rex' for Kings or 'Regina' for Queen. So EIIR stands for 'Elizabeth II Regina' or 'Queen Elizabeth II'