April born Queen Elizabeth II is to celebrate both her birthday and her platinum jubilee this year. The nonagenarian mother-of-four, grandmother-of-eight and great-grandmother-of-12 has been active in public life for more than seven decades and is set to celebrate another birthday on Thursday, April 21.
Not only does the Queen mark 70 years in service this year, but she will also celebrate her 96th birthday. It is understood that the Queen is returning to Sandringham for a "mini-break" that will allow her to be "as close as possible" to her late husband Prince Philip on her birthday this week.
While experiencing some ill-health during more recent years, the Queen has only missed official engagements following doctors' orders. Earlier this year the Queen tested positive for Covid and her spokesperson said she was experiencing mild cold-like symptoms.
The Queen later said it left her “very tired and exhausted”, as she sympathised with a former virus patient who lost his brother and father to the illness. Despite this, following a recent visit with Her Majesty, her grandson Prince Harry said she was "on great form". The Duke of Sussex told NBC's Today show: "Being with her it was great, it was just so nice to see her, she's on great form.
"She's always got a great sense of humour with me and I'm just making sure that she's protected and got the right people around her.
Both Meghan and I had tea with her, so it was really nice to catch up with her."
The Queen will mark her birthday twice this year, as per a tradition set by her father, the late King George. He started the second celebration due to his November birthday, wishing to celebrate it in the summer months and therefore combining it with the Trooping of the Colour.
