Summary

  • Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her 90th birthday

  • She met well-wishers in Windsor and lit a symbolic beacon

  • Gun salutes have been taking place around the UK

  • David Cameron led tributes in the Commons to Britain's longest serving monarch

  1. Postpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Email: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk

    Mark, from Leighton Buzzard in Buckinghamshire, emails:

    The very best wishes to Your Majesty on your 90th Birthday. May your years of tireless hard work and dedication to your country, empire and people set a precedent for world monarchs and leaders. You are an inspiration, thank you. Many happy returns and best wishes to you and your family.

    Dan Wolpert, from the US, emails:

    We are from the US and are celebrating the Queen's birthday by making a pilgrimage to St David's Cathedral in Wales.

    Anja, from Slovenia, emails:

    I wish the Queen a very Happy Birthday and many years to come!

  2. How does she do it? Royal biographer talks about longevitypublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Daily Mail journalist and biographer Robert Hardman spoke to Anne Diamond about how the Queen continues to be so active at the age of 90. 

    He said that a former private secretary said - lovingly - that "the Queen is as strong as a yak" due to good health, strong faith and Prince Philip. 

    Media caption,

    Royal Biographer and Journalist Robert Hardman joined Anne Diamond live from Windsor.

  3. Jeremy Corbyn praises 'energy and outstanding commitment'published at 11:42 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Jeremy Corbyn

    Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn continued the tributes to the Queen. 

    He said: "I admire her energy and wish her well in her continuing and outstanding commitment to public life - I wish her a very happy 90th birthday."  

  4. PM lauds 'truly humbling' public service recordpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    The Prime Minister opened the Commons debate by telling MPs that comprehending the scale of the Queen's public service is "truly humbling".

    He listed some of her achievements, including meeting a quarter of all American presidents and advising 12 prime ministers.

    The Prime Minister admitted to testing her patience, but denied that he had ever sent her to sleep by "droning on about Europe", as was depicted in the play The Audience. 

  5. Ready, aim, blow: How the Queen's house band preparespublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Multiple regiments will be in Windsor to perform for the Queen, and the crowds which are expected to reach the thousands. 

    Senior director of music Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Roberts told BBC Berkshire what preparation goes into preparing for such an important event. 

    Media caption,

    Queen's 90th: Coldstream Guards

  6. PM: 'People remember meeting for rest of their lives'published at 11:33 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    David Cameron has paid tribute to the Queen in the Commons.  

    The prime minister said no other country had a head of state "with such wisdom and patience". 

    He said when people meet the Queen "they remember it for the rest of their lives". 

  7. PM pays tribute in Commonspublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    David Cameron
  8. "May there be many more birthdays, Ma'am"published at 11:27 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    BBC News reporter tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  9. 'Hat man of London'published at 11:24 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    BBC News reporter tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  10. Crowds getting biggerpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Crowds by Windsor Castle

    Crowds in Windsor continue to grow larger ahead of the Queen's public appearance in the town later. 

    The monarch will soon appear to unveil a plaque for a digital walkway before she carries out a walkabout of the town. 

  11. Overheard on Windsor High Streetpublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    BBC News reporter tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  12. Strike up the band: Coldstream Guards on the movepublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    The Coldstream Guards - the oldest regiment in the British Army in continuous service - has begun parading through Windsor. 

    The band is providing royal accompaniment to the birthday walkabout. 

    Coldstream guards
  13. Royal wardrobe on display in Scotlandpublished at 11:21 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Exhibition of the Queen's wardrobe in ScotlandImage source, PA
    Queen's wardrobe exhibitionImage source, PA

    The Queen's residency Holyroodhouse is marking her 90th birthday by hosting the first of three special exhibitions showcasing outfits from the Queen's childhood to the present day.  

    Celebrations are being organised in many parts of Scotland to mark the occasion. 

    To read more about how Scotland is celebrating, click here.  

  14. Getting the best spot at Windsorpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Crowds have been getting creative with their appearances to help celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.

    Some have been camping out overnight - not long to go now before the Queen makes an appearance in the town. 

    Royal well-wishers with a big balloon saying 90Image source, Reuters
    Royal well-wishers at Windsor CastleImage source, PA
    Royal well-wishers at Windsor CastleImage source, PA
  15. Why does the Queen love Windsor so much?published at 11:14 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Former royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter speaks to the BBC's Andrew Peach on why Windsor Castle is so special to the Queen. 

    He said that the royal residence held a lot of special memories for the Queen, including growing up with her father and mother. 

    Media caption,

    Former Royal press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, on why the Queen loves Windsor.

  16. Queen to be presented with cakepublished at 11:11 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    BBC News reporter tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  17. 'The only way is Windsor': Joey Essex joins the crowdspublished at 11:08 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Reality TV star Joey Essex has come to Windsor for the Queen's birthday walkabout, and the BBC's Susanne Courtney tested his knowledge with a royal quiz. 

    Media caption,

    Joey Essex tests his knowledge of the Queen

    When asked to name another monarch who had served more than 50 years, he said: "Churchill". 

  18. Royal gun salutespublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Gun salute at Hyde Park for Queen's 89th birthdayImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    Royal gun salutes will be held across the UK

    Royal gun salutes will be fired from each of the UK's capital cities and at other authorised stations across the UK later.

    Most of the salutes will be 21 guns in length - the standard royal gun salute - and will be held at locations including Hillsborough Castle, Cardiff Castle, and Edinburgh Castle.

    In London, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery will stage a 41-gun salute at noon in Hyde Park. 

    And the Honourable Artillery Company will fire a 62-gun salute across the Thames from the Tower of London at 13:00 BST.

  19. 'Oyez, oyez': Town criers prepare for royal arrivalpublished at 11:02 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    Three town criers from Chelmsford have come to Windsor to wish the Queen a very happy birthday. 

    No microphone will be required. 

    Media caption,

    A group of town criers' musical tribute to Her Majesty on her birthday.

  20. Crowded in Windsorpublished at 11:00 British Summer Time 21 April 2016

    BBC News reporter tweets...

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post