The Queen celebrates her 95th birthday today with official celebrations scaled back due to the pandemic.

Trooping the Colour is usually held on Horse Guards Parade behind Whitehall when the Queen inspects soldiers from the Household Division.

Each year sees a different regiment's Colours trooped with the Queen always attending and taking the salute.

This will be the first Trooping of the Colour at which the Queen will not be accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, who died in April. He would have turned 100 on Thursday, June 10.

Northwich Guardian:

The usual Trooping the Colour has been scaled back due to the pandemic

 

The Queen planted a special rose in Windsor Castle’s gardens in his honour

The monarch has two birthdays due to a tradition that goes back to 1748, during the reign of King George I.

Her actual birthday is April 21 but her public celebration is on June 12 this year.

This year’s event will be much smaller than usual, due to Covid restrictions still being in place.

Northwich Guardian:

The Duke of Kent will accompany the Queen at the smaller Windsor Castle event.

The parade will be led by the Foot Guards, who will be joined in the quadrangle by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

They will fire a 41 gun royal salute from the east lawn of the castle.

The Queen's birthday has been marked by the Trooping the Colour for more than 260 years but the occasion has been cancelled for a second time this year due to coronavirus restrictions.

Winsford mayor Cllr Nathan Pardoe said: “On behalf of Winsford residents, I'd like to wish the Queen a happy birthday celebration.”