Communities celebrate Queen's 90th birthday

Communities all over the country will unite this weekend in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's official birthday.
Queen's visit.
Maundy service 2005.
Wakefield.Queen's visit.
Maundy service 2005.
Wakefield.
Queen's visit. Maundy service 2005. Wakefield.

Her Royal Highness became the first living British monarch to reach the age of 90 on April 21.

But in a tradition dating back to 1748, she celebrates a second birthday - her official one - this Saturday, the second Saturday in June.

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Each year, the monarch’s official birthday is marked with a parade, the Trooping of the Colour, through central London.

Holding the parade in the summer means there is less chance of rain and more chance of warmer British weather for the occasion.

This year, a traditional service of thanksgiving, the annual birthday parade and a mass street party for 10,000 people will all celebrate the milestone birthday of Britain’s longest reigning sovereign.

An extension of pub opening hours on Friday and Saturday evening has also been arranged to help create a party atmosphere.

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On Friday, politicians, religious leaders and guests will gather at St Paul’s Cathedral for a service celebrating the nonagenarian.

Nostalgia - 1982 Queens visit to WakefieldNostalgia - 1982 Queens visit to Wakefield
Nostalgia - 1982 Queens visit to Wakefield

Saturday will see the traditional Trooping the Colour parade and carriage procession.

The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and other royals, will watch the Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade at which The Queen’s Colour of Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards will be trooped.

Afterwards, the royals will join a carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace. Royal fans will be hoping to catch a glimpse of Princess Charlotte if she makes her first appearance on the balcony for the annual RAF flypast.

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Gun salutes will then be fired and the Royal Family will assembly on the Palace Balcony for a fly past by the Royal Air Force.

Queen's visit.
Maundy service 2005.
Wakefield.Queen's visit.
Maundy service 2005.
Wakefield.
Queen's visit. Maundy service 2005. Wakefield.

The Queen’s Birthday Honours List is also announced and the Union flag is flown from government buildings.

The celebrations will finish on Sunday, with The Patron’s Lunch, a giant street party on The Mall.

Around 10,000 revellers - the majority representatives from the Queen’s patronages - will sit down to a hamper-style lunch along the London thoroughfare which leads up to the Palace. A carnival parade will travel along entertaining guests.

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Street parties and celebrations will be held up and down the country.

Nostalgia - 1982 Queens visit to WakefieldNostalgia - 1982 Queens visit to Wakefield
Nostalgia - 1982 Queens visit to Wakefield

Here’s what’s going on in Wakefield.

You can send us details about and photos from your Queen celebrations by emailing [email protected]

Wakefield district:

- St. Mary’s Church at Allerton Bywater is holding a tea party, fair and barbecue on Saturday. There will be corgi racing, crown crafts and face painting. Entry costs £5 for adults, £3 for children. Free admissions for children dressed as a King or Queen. Call 01977 557981 for more information.

- Nostell Priory will host a garden party with traditional country games, family crafts and competitions. It takes place from 11am until 5pm on June 11.

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- A tea party for the Queen, organised by Featherstone Town Council, will take place at the town’s community centre from 4pm until 6.30pm on June 9. Tickets cost £4 for adults, £1 for children.

- Building Ossett Better have organised a picnic in the town centre precinct on Saturday with live music and entertainment, as well as competitions for the best decorated table and best designed crown. It runs from 10am until 2pm.

- The Salvation Army will host an Afternoon tea on Sunday at 2pm at the hall in Vicarage Street.

- A summer garden part will be thrown at St George’s Community Centre in Lupset on Sunday. There will be donkey rides, a bouncy castle, face painting, stalls and a fancy dress competition.

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- There will be a Queen’s birthday lunch at St Peter’s Church in Stanley at noon on Sunday.

- Wakefield Orchestral Wind Band will play in honour of the Queen’s birthday from 3pm until 5pm on Sunday at St Peter’s Church, Kirkthorpe.

- A birthday book for The Queen will remain at Wakefield Cathedral until Saturday so people across the district can write their birthday wishes. It will then be sent to the palace.

- Residents of Wakefield who have their 90th birthday this year are invited to celebrate with the Mayor and Mayoress at a tea part in the town hall on Saturday, from noon until 3pm. Contact the Mayor’s Office to reserve a place.

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- Pontefract Prince of Wales Hospice will host its annual garden party with a royal theme to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. There will be musical performances, stalls and garden games from 1.30pm on Sunday.

- Around 250 houses in the new Redrow Scholars Gate development in Wrenthorpe are invited to join in a street party on Westminster Avenue on Sunday. There will be games, a bake off competition, ice cream van and tombola. The event will raise funds for Wakefield Hospice.

- A party will be held on Sunday at Smawthorne Park in Castleford. There will be fairground rides, music, dancing, a tug of war and wheel barrow races at the park between 11am and 3pm. People are encourage to bring a picnic to the event, organised by Smawthorne Welfare Action Team (SWAT).

- Wakefield Council will open a birthday book for Her Majesty, which will be in Wakefield Town Hall from 9.30am until 3.30pm on Friday.

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- The town hall clock tower will be lit up on Friday and Saturday in red, white and blue.

- Wakefield’s Mayor Coun Harry Ellis will be joining school children at Crofton Junior School on Friday who are part of the national tribute where pupils will be singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to The Queen.

- Staff at Wakefield One’s Create Café are baking a special birthday cake for the Queen and people will be able to ‘buy a slice’ and get any coffee for half price on Friday.