Published in Windlesora 33 (2016)
© WLHG 2018
Part 1: Princess Elizabeth was published in Windlesora 32
The British Monarch celebrates two birthdays: the actual day of their birth, which in Queen Elizabeth II’s case is April 21st, and the official one. The latter tradition dates from 1748 and is usually celebrated on the second Saturday in June.
Since the beginning of her reign in 1952, the Queen, with the Duke of Edinburgh, has celebrated many family and national events at Windsor Castle. As her 90th birthday approached, there came the announcement that it would be spent in Windsor.
The celebrations began on Wednesday 20th April 2016, and continued for some days after that. Apparently, Prince Harry was heard to remark that the best birthday present his grandmother could have was a day off!
April 20th was a fine sunny day, and the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived by car at the entrance to Alexandra Gardens, nearest to the new bandstand. They walked to an area under a canopy where there were chairs for the Royal couple, other members of the royal party, the Mayor, and other civic dignitaries. The band of the Irish Guards played the National Anthem, and the guests were serenaded by a choir that was assembled around the bandstand. The choir was made up of some five hundred children, drawn from eleven schools in the Royal Borough, who had taken part in a choral project initiated by the College of St George.
This had encouraged regular singing in schools, presenting performances in special places, and learning about the history of the College, its musical life, and that of the choristers. The choir, which was performing together for the first time, sang four songs.
This was followed by a performance of the masked ball and balcony scenes from Romeo and Juliet, enacted by pupils from Cox Green School in Maidenhead, and Langley Grammar School in Slough. They were participating in the Shakespeare Schools Festival which trains teachers and young people in an ambitious way of working with Shakespeare, culminating in exhilarating evenings with young people performing Shakespeare in professional theatres across the country every autumn.
After the children had withdrawn, the Queen and Duke walked to the new bandstand, which had replaced a Victorian stand that had been demolished in the 1950s, and is close to the original site. Her Majesty unveiled six commemorative plaques, each depicting a significant event or time during her reign as Head of the Armed Forces. These are:
the Coronation, Commonwealth, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, the Gulf War, and Afghanistan. The plaques, etched into zinc and polished, will remain fixed to the bandstand to demonstrate the importance of the Armed Forces within the Royal Borough communities. Illustrative artist Rebecca Elliot designed them, drawing on ideas expressed by children in local schools who had taken part in creative workshops which focussed on military involvement in the events.
The Queen and the royal party then retired by car to the Castle.
The next day, April 21st, was just as fine and sunny for the Queen to celebrate her 90th birthday. From an early hour, large crowds gathered in the centre of Windsor, the roads were closed, and at twelve noon, dressed in bright green and accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, Her Majesty left the Castle via the Henry VIII Gate.
She received a rousing rendition of ‘Happy Birthday‘ from the waiting crowd, some of whom had been waiting for hours. Beaming and stopping to take flowers, drawings, and gifts, the Queen walked down one side of the road and the Duke down the other. Passing Queen Victoria’s statue, they were met by Hugo Vickers, historian and biographer, who led Her Majesty to a panoramic panel displaying details of the Queen’s Walkway a 6.9km (1.9 mile) self-guided walking trail around the town, which she unveiled. They walked to the Guildhall and entered the Corn Exchange where a party was taking place for Royal Borough residents who alss celebrated their 90th birthdays in 2016. They were invited with a guest, and asked to suberit a short biography, for example had they met the Queen before, any high profile work in the community or business, whether they had been active in local organisations, or anything ‘you may feel of note. This was passed on to the Royal Household as it would assist Her Majesty in engaging with those she met; four men and sixteen women.
The Queen, accompanied by the Mayor, walked down the line speaking to each of them. Nadya Hussein, winner of the Great British Bake-Off, presented a three-tier cake, which was duly cut by the Queen. After the Royal party had left, lunch for the nonagenarians was served in the Guildhall Chamber.
Standing with the Duke of Edinburgh in the State review vehicle, Her Majesty was driven slowly down Peascod Street, through the throng of excited well-wishers, smiling broadly and waving in acknowledgement of their cheers. They returned to the Castle Quadrangle where they were greeted with a Royal Salute given by the Military Knights of Windsor Her Majesty’s Bodyguard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen were on duty at the Sovereign’s Entrance. In the evening, the Queen and Duke drove to the Cambridge Gate, Home Park, for the lighting of the Queen’s 90th Birthday Beacon, and were received by Mr Bruno Peck (Pageantmaster). The Prince of Wales, accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall, passed the torch to Her Majesty and invited her to light the beacon.
Windsor Local History Group 
