The Queen turns 96

For her birthday, the Queen shows herself in a photo with two of her favorite animals. The big celebrations don’t start until June – together with another festivity.

At 96, the Queen no longer poses on her ponies, but with two on her reins. To mark the British Queen’s birthday on Thursday, the Royal Windsor Horse Show released a picture of Elizabeth II between her two ponies, Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale. The photo was taken at Windsor Castle last month, the royal family said on Twitter. Horses are one of the Queen’s great passions. At Windsor Castle, where the Queen currently resides, she keeps several horses.

Celebration in private

Queen Elizabeth wants to celebrate her birthday at her country estate in East England, Sandringham. The Queen will fly there by helicopter on her day of honor, as reported by the BBC, among others. As a result, the Queen is said to be spending her time near the coast at the modest Wood Farm, which her husband Prince Philip, who died last year, is said to have loved. Family and friends are expected to visit in the next few days.

She usually spends her birthday in private, the day is only publicly celebrated with cannon shots. In an interview with the television channel NBC, Prince Harry, the Queen’s grandson, said: “After a certain age, you get bored on birthdays.” Instead, there are larger celebrations in early June – this year even particularly extensively. Because in addition to the birthday, it is important to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the throne of the monarch with a four-day program and an extra holiday for the British. Most recently, the Queen’s health gave cause for concern: due to a corona infection, the Queen hardly appeared in public and kept canceling appointments.

Barbie Doll Jubilee

On the occasion of the anniversary, the toy manufacturer Mattel announced on Thursday that it would like to honor the monarch’s day of honor with a Barbie doll. Accordingly, the doll wears an ivory dress with a blue sash decorated with miniature medallions and ribbons.

The doll will be on sale in London’s Harrods, Selfridges and Hamleys ahead of the official Platinum Jubilee celebrations in early June.

Elizabeth II became King George VI after the death of her father. Queen on 6 February 1952. She is the longest reigning monarch in British history.