Queen’s 90th birthday marked at Trooping the Colour parade

Leading figures from national life gathered for the service, which heralded the start of a weekend of celebrations marking the Queen’s milestone.

It’s Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday – still. It could look familiar to some, since it’s something they also did back in April when she actually turned 90. See our explainers here.

It’s her party, and she’ll get upstaged by her granddaughter if she wants to.

Philip continues to be a constant presence at the side of the monarch during many of her official duties and he carries out hundreds of public engagements in his own right.

What does not being born in the summer have to do with it?

This year that day is Saturday June 11, which is closer to Prince Philip’s birthday.

They wore crowns that they had designed earlier in the day and also baked a celebratory cake.

It will be a little more elaborate than that.

The royal Guards were there to celebrate the Queen’s birthday with the Trooping the Colour – a traditional ceremony within the military.

After, the royals rode back in their carriages to Buckingham Palace, via Whitehall. More than 1,600 soldiers and 300 horses are taking part this year.

The Colour being paraded on Horse Guards this year was the flag of Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards, the unit last performed this special role in 2007.

The Queen was accompanied in her horse-drawn carriage by 95-year-old Prince Philip, with Prince Harry, the Duchess Camilla and the Duchess of Cambridge traveling together in another carriage. Over 400 musicians from different bands and corps of drums all march and play as one.

On the Thames there was a maritime tribute to the Queen with a small flotilla of vessels – led by the Gloriana – which had five-time Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave on board. On Friday an RAF serviceman fainted and was carried away by paramedics at St. Paul’s Cathedral shortly before the Queen arrived. It was Prince Phillip’s 95th birthday, and he was mentioned in the prayers there.

It is when a list of honours is issued, with this year’s recipients including 99-year-old singer Vera Lynn, who entertained British troops during the second world war, and Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station.