As it happened: Beacons lit for Queen's 90th birthday

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

Live Reporting

Alex Therrien and Paul Gribben

Republic says 'inappropriate to celebrate' royal birthdaypublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
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The chief executive of Republic has said the Queen's birthday "does not warrant this kind of coverage".
Graham Smith, the campaign group's CEO, said it was "inappropriate to celebrate a political figure like this" and that "the public just aren't that excited about the royals".
He added:
Quote Message
The BBC has a duty to report, not to celebrate the royals. That reporting must be fair, balanced and proportionate. So far this week the BBC has failed completely on those measures. When there are so many major events happening in the world, making the royal family the main headline story is unacceptable.
Queen's visit overpublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council tweets...
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Crowds line the streets as Queen leavespublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
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Children sing Happy Birthday to the Queenpublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
There was one more song for the Queen from the Windsor schoolchildren - they sang Happy Birthday to her as she officially declared the bandstand open, on the eve of her 90th birthday.
Students perform Romeo and Julietpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
GCSE and A-Level students have performed an excerpt of Romeo and Juliet for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Queen and Duke of Edinburgh watch performances at the bandstandpublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
School children sing for the Queenpublished at 11:54 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
A children’s choir is currently performing four short songs for the monarch - including When I am Sixty-Four by the Beatles - outside the bandstand.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are to meet children from six schools involved in the design of its commemorative plaques.
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Queen to open bandstandpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
The Queen is due to open a bandstand in Windsor's Alexandra Gardens.
She has also been viewing an exhibition about the bandstand.
Image source, european photopress agency
'Excitement' at Royal Mail visitpublished at 11:45 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
Windsor delivery office manager Andy Roeton said there was "a lot of excitement" at the visit.
He said:
Quote Message
I think for the staff it's recognition of the great work they do and the majority of them live in the local area - and this is one of the best things that's ever happened to me.
Her visit saw her commemorate the anniversary of the postal service.
Five hundred years ago, in 1516, Henry VIII knighted Brian Tuke, the first Master of the Posts - a move that was the catalyst for the creation of the Royal Mail we know today.
Jan Warbuton, whose delivery round is the closest to the Windsor Castle, said:
Quote Message
It's the best duty in the office, if I say so. It's very, very busy, especially at the weekends and or when the kids are off - it can be chaos but I love it. Tourists are always stopping me and asking if they can get a picture with my trolley.
Royal Mail choir serenade royal couplepublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
Windsor Express reporter tweets...
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The Queen at 90 in 90 picturespublished at 11:32 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
To mark the event, the BBC presents an image from the archives of the Press Association from every year of her life.
The photo of the young Princess Elizabeth below was taken in 1935.
Look at the Queen in 90 pictures here.
Image source, PA
Songs in the sun for the Queenpublished at 11:28 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
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Queen speaks to staff at delivery officepublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
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Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrivalpublished at 11:22 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
Image source, PA
The Queen has chosen a bright pink outfit - complete with spring-like flowers - for the day. Here she is arriving at the delivery office with the Duke of Edinburgh.
Royal fans try to get a glimpse of the Queenpublished at 11:17 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
Image source, PA
Here's the scene outside the Royal Mail delivery office, where the Queen has just arrived.
Many waved flags to welcome her, with one member of the crowd also holding up a birthday card.
It may well be that the Queen receives a fair number of those in the coming days...
Bunting and flags for royal welcomepublished at 11:10 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
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Queen arrives at delivery office in Windsorpublished at 11:09 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
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New stamps for the monarch's birthdaypublished at 10:56 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
Image source, PA
There has been a lot of interest around a new set of stamps being released to mark the Queen's birthday.
This could be something to do with a rather scene-stealing Prince George, who appears with a wide grin on his first ever stamp.
As you can see from the uncropped image below, he hasn't miraculously grown - instead, he had to stand on a stack of blocks so that the royals' heads would appear at roughly the same level on the sheet of stamps.
Prince William holds his hand, apparently to provide a bit of balance for the toddler, while Prince Charles sits alongside his mother in the snap, taken in Buckingham Palace last year. Blue very much seems to be the colour of choice.
Image source, PA
How the Queen is marking her 90th birthdaypublished at 10:50 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
So how is the Queen marking her milestone birthday?
The British Monarch website has the full details, external of what the monarch is doing today and tomorrow in Windsor.
Her visit to the Royal Mail Windsor delivery office on William Street, with the Duke of Edinburgh, marks the 500th Anniversary of the postal service.
They will then take part in a ceremony at Alexandra Gardens to officially open its new bandstand.
And of course, events to mark the Queen's official birthday will take place in June.
We have a full rundown of how the Queen is set to celebrate her birthday over the coming days and months.
Read more.
US visitors welcome surprisepublished at 10:41 British Summer Time 20 April 2016
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