The monarch will celebrate with an elaborate military parade in Central London.
Today, the U. K. will celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday. The monarch was actually born April 21,1926, but in the U. K. and various Commonwealth realms she has an «official» birthday as well.
The official birthday is a public day of celebration in honor of the monarch’s actual birthday.
As the royal family’s official website notes, U. K. celebrations have historically taken place in the summer to make the most of the good weather. The tradition was started in 1748 by King George II, who was born in November.
British commemorations usually take place on the second Saturday in June. In London, a large military parade called Trooping the Colour marks the day. The Queen and other members of the royal family take part in the London pageantry, which ends with a fly-past from the Royal Air Force.
