Why does the Queen have 2 birthdays

Whilst the Queen’s actual birthday is on 21 April, her official birthday celebrations happen later in the year, on the second Saturday in June.

This is celebrated with the parade known as Trooping the Colour.

Why does the Queen have two birthdays?

The short answer is that April is too cold for a parade.

Whilst 21 April is more of a private celebration, Trooping the Colour marks the Queen’s official celebration.

Queen Elizabeth II was not the first monarch to do this.

The tradition was started by George II in 1748. With a November birthday being too cold for a celebratory parade, he tied his celebrations in with the annual Trooping the Colour military parade.

What is Trooping the Colour?

The ceremonial parade Trooping the Colour has its origins on the battlefield. A regiment’s flag, or ‘colours’, was a key rallying point for soldiers during battle.

In order to ensure that every soldier would be able to recognise their colours, the flag would be marched or 'trooped' regularly round the ranks. A regiment’s colours came to have huge significance for serving soldiers, and the gain or loss of colours were seen as decisive moments in battle.

This military function gained royal significance during the reign of George II, the first monarch to tie his birthday celebrations into the summer ceremony - despite the fact that his actual birthday was in November.

Edward VII also had a November birthday, and it was during his reign that the summer 'official' birthday celebrations were standardised. It was also under Edward VII that the inspection of the troops by the monarch became part of the celebration.

Trooping the Colour now typically takes place every year on the second Saturday in June.

What happens at Trooping the Colour?

Over 1400 parading soldiers, 400 horses and 400 musicians take part at the Trooping the Colour parade. 

The Queen arrives at House Guard’s Parade in Whitehall, receives a royal salute, and inspects the troops.

Military bands perform, and the regimental colour is taken on procession down the ranks of soldiers.

The Queen’s carriage then journeys back to Buckingham Palace at the head of the parade. She is joined on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, where they watch an RAF fly-by.

Trooping the Colour also aligns with the release of the Birthday Honours list.

A special photograph released for the Queen's birthday reflects her lifelong interest in horses

It is the Queen's birthday on Thursday 21 April - but she also has another one later in the year.

The Queen has two birthdays - her real one - in April, as she was born on 21 April 1926.

Then a second one - the official celebration - on the second Saturday of June.

So why does the Queen have two birthdays, and how does she celebrate them?

Why not on the actual day?

Here is The Queen as a baby being held by her mum and dad, then known as the Duke and Duchess of York, in a photo taken on 1 May 1926

In the past, official celebrations to mark a King or Queen's birthday in the UK have been held on a day that isn't their actual birthday.

The Queen's great-grandfather, Edward VII, who was King from 1901 to 1910 was born in November, which is not known in the UK for its good weather.

Here is the Queen as a baby being introduced to the world on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, alongside her parents and her grandparents

But he wanted it to be possible to have a big public celebration - and November wasn't the time do it.

So, given that his actual birthday wouldn't be a good time of year for a birthday parade, he decided to combine it with an annual military parade in the summer, when the weather would hopefully be nice.

How does she mark her birthdays?

This is a picture of the gun salute that took place in Hyde Park in April 2019

The Queen usually spends her actual birthday with her family.

There is usually a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

The Trooping the Colour parade marks her official birthday and usually takes place in June.

What is Trooping the Colour?

The Trooping the Colour parade is quite a spectacle!

Trooping the Colour has marked the official birthday of the British monarch for more than 260 years.

It's also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade.

More than 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians usually take part in the event, so it's quite a spectacle!

Lots of members of the public waving flags and wearing Union Jacks normally fill the Mall outside Buckingham Palace to watch it.

For many people, watching the RAF Red Arrows fly down the Mall and over the top of Buckingham Palace is a highlight of the celebrations

On the day, normally a big parade starts at the Queen's official residence - Buckingham Palace - before moving along the Mall to Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall, near to Downing Street, and then back again.

Then it's traditional for the royal family to travel down the Mall as part of the ceremony, and gather on Buckingham Palace's balcony to greet well-wishers and watch RAF planes perform an aerial display for the occasion.

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