On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 96th birthday discreetly in Sandringham.
(AP) — On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 96th birthday in secret at her east Anglian estate, Sandringham, with her late husband, Prince Philip.
After Philip’s death in April 2021, Elizabeth is likely to spend the day in the estate’s Wood Farm cottage, her particular retreat. She claimed Philip liked the cottage since it was near to the water.
“I think the queen’s approach to birthdays represents her calm and collected demeanor “Emily Nash, royal editor of HELLO! “She dislikes fuss.”
This birthday falls during the queen’s 70th year on the throne. On June 2-5, four days of jubilee festivities will coincide with the monarch’s formal birthday.
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Amid symptoms of aging and familial strife, the queen has attempted to ensure the monarchy’s future. She has been unable to make public appearances since recuperating from COVID-19 earlier this year. An undesirable headline for the royal family was Prince Andrew’s multi-million-pound settlement with an accuser of sexual exploitation.
Her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, paid her a combined visit this week for the first time since they retired from frontline royal responsibilities and relocated to California in 2020. Harry told NBC that his grandma was “in wonderful shape,” but he wanted to make sure she was “protected” and “surrounded by the proper people.”
Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, has spent much of the last two years at Windsor Castle, west of London.
Philip, her long-time husband of almost 70 years, died a year ago.
The queen said her farewells at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Regulations at the time limited the service to 30 mourners and made the monarch sit alone, symbolizing her latter years.
The queen overcame recent health concerns to attend a thanksgiving ceremony for Philip at Westminster Abbey, arriving on the arm of Andrew, her second son.
This was viewed as a support for Andrew after his court settlement.
But he was rarely seen in person. The Queen has relied on Prince Charles for public appearances in her later years, most notably giving alms to the elderly during the Royal Maundy ceremony at St. George’s Chapel.
Charles was tasked with delivering especially struck coins to seniors who had served the church and community.
For each year of the queen’s life, 96 men and women got coins.
“She has a lot coming up in the next three months, so it makes perfect sense,” Nash added. “But even at 96, this is someone who is still looking forward.”
