Why does the Queen have two birthdays every year?

Queen Elizabeth II will turn 91 on April 21.

Celebrations may be a little more muted than this time last year for the landmark birthday, but Friday is not the only time the Queen will get to celebrate.

Like all British monarchs, the Queen actually has two birthdays every year.

WHEN DOES THE QUEEN CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAYS?

Her actual birth date is April 21. The Queen was born in Mayfair in 1926.

Her official birthday though – this year at least – is June 17, and will be celebrated by the annual “Trooping the Colour” celebration.

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WHY DOES SHE HAVE TWO BIRTHDAYS?

Like many things in Britain, you can blame the weather.

The tradition for the reigning monarch to have two birthdays started way back in the eighteenth century.

George II started the tradition in 1748. The idea was to have a public celebration for the monarch’s birthday and a parade.

However, it was Edward VII who made the event an annual one celebrated each June.

This was because his real birthday was November, and it was decided to hold an annual parade during the weekend in the summer, when it is (supposedly) warmer.

DOES THE QUEEN ATTEND EVERY YEAR?

She has attended every Trooping the Colour since taking the throne in 1952 except one – 1955 – when a rail strike prevented celebrations.

Until 1987, she traditionally rode a horse during the event, but now uses a carriage.

Famously in 1981, she remained calm on her horse after six blank shots were fired.

HOW DOES SHE CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAYS?

Friday’s celebrations are likely to be a private family affair, but the Queen will celebrate more publicly in June and is likely to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

She is the oldest Monarch to have reigned in the UK.