Birthday Parade And Flypast To Mark Queen's 90th

The Queen will celebrate her official birthday today with Trooping the Colour and a flypast over Buckingham Palace.

The annual military parade, which always takes place on a Saturday in June, has special significance for Her Majesty’s 90th birthday.

Some 1,500 soldiers, 400 horses and 200 musicians will march in front of her, watched by thousands of spectators.

It is a demonstration of respect and affection by the military to their Commander-in-Chief.

The head of the British military, speaking exclusively to Sky News, said there is nothing like it.

"I invite many of my international opposite numbers to come along to bear witness to Trooping of the Colour and they are blown away,” General Sir Nick Houghton, told me.

"It's not something that can be emulated anywhere else that I know in the world. It is the Tina Turner if you like, Simply The Best."

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Squadron Corporal Major George Sampson has been given the honour of carrying the Sovereign's Standard in front of the Queen.

"I think everyone can remember their first Trooping the Colour, riding down the Mall, looking left and right, seeing 15 deep either side of The Mall," he said.

"It's a pretty occasion, knowing your family and parents can watch it on TV."

Bill Speakman and the Queen hold a special moment in common. She was the first person that she gave an honour to, in her first ever investiture, just three weeks after she became the Queen. She awarded him the Victoria Cross for bravery in Korea.

"I just didn't know what to say. I just stood there to attention and she talked to me. She gave me the medal and she just said 'well done' and 'there you are'.

"She's quite something. She really is. She's magic, you know. She's done a lot for this country, she's looked after us and we are there for her and God bless her. She's our Queen and we're very, very proud of her, she's done a wonderful job."

No matter who you are, however senior, you always get nervous in front of the Queen, according to General Houghton. He describes her, affectionately, as "her own intelligence agency".

"She has a remarkably keen eye and does it in the most subtle of ways. I've never known her to be remotely testy or anything like that. But you know when she's sounding you out and you know you've got to have the correct answers because she is her own intelligence organisation and very good at it she is too.

"I think anyone who pretends they're not nervous when they go to see Her Majesty are not actually telling the truth!"

Yesterday, the Queen attended a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, attended by members of her family, politicians and well-known public figures.

On Sunday, 10,000 people will be at The Patron's Lunch on The Mall and street parties will be held up and down the country. Pubs will stay open later under special licensing extensions.