[trphil]

So why does the Queen need and official birthday as well as her real one in April? A quick Google seems to suggest that it's to have a better chance of good weather (which given the date chosen is slightly flawed) but why the need for the terminology, she can after all have a party whenever she chooses...

[Big Boy Barry]

Originally Posted by trphil

So why does the Queen need and official birthday as well as her real one in April? A quick Google seems to suggest that it's to have a better chance of good weather (which given the date chosen is slightly flawed) but why the need for the terminology, she can after all have a party whenever she chooses...

Trooping The Colour

Would be less pleasant in April.



BTW, Happy Birthday Your Majesty. Rest assured, your loyal servant Big Boy Barry is fighting the good fight on DS, and it's all for you ma'am, all for you.

[scorpio man]

Originally Posted by Big Boy Barry

Trooping The Colour

Would be less pleasant in April.

Even less pleasant this June.

I'm having visions of soaking wet bearskins getting blown around the parade ground.

[Spot]

The previous monarch's birthday was in December, the birthday of the present heir to the throne is in November, so these are probably better examples to explain why the monarch has an official birthday.

[Cissy Fairfax]

Poor.sod, dragged out for the entire Jubilee.weekend, soon as that's done its birthday celebrations, next week Royal Ascot. Tough going, especially at her age. I'd have been looking for ways to get out of it.

[scorpio man]

Originally Posted by Cissy Fairfax

Poor.sod, dragged out for the entire Jubilee.weekend, soon as that's done its birthday celebrations, next week Royal Ascot. Tough going, especially at her age. I'd have been looking for ways to get out of it.

Well, her ole man managed to get out of some of it didn't he, if truths known I reckon he went down the pub.

[spikydog]

Originally Posted by trphil

So why does the Queen need and official birthday as well as her real one in April? A quick Google seems to suggest that it's to have a better chance of good weather (which given the date chosen is slightly flawed) but why the need for the terminology, she can after all have a party whenever she chooses...

Obviously wants more presents.

[ronnie24]

I saw this vid on the queen yesterday a few of these people summed up my thoughts perfectly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qyQeNgIKY

[Spot]

Prince Philip to accompany the Queen today according to Huw Edwards on the BBC. There's also the traditional balcony appearance and flypast after the ceremony.

[grumpyscot]

Does she really need another big celebration just two weeks after the whole country was obliged to celebrate her jubilee? Does she not realise this country is hard up - especially when we have to contribute billions to bale out Greece, Spain, etc

Just for once, her official birthday could have been merged with her jubillee and saved a bit of public funds.

[Jakobjoe]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-birthday.html
It makes you proud to be British.
Hurrah.......

[skp20040]

Originally Posted by trphil

So why does the Queen need and official birthday as well as her real one in April? A quick Google seems to suggest that it's to have a better chance of good weather (which given the date chosen is slightly flawed) but why the need for the terminology, she can after all have a party whenever she chooses...

The Queen did not herself choose two birthdays. The Monarchs birthday was first celebrated in 1748 and used to be on the day of the actual birthday. The tradition of a public offcial birthday was brought in by Edward VII as his birthday was in November and he thought if it was held in June there was a chance of better weather and as it was a public event meaning people did not stand around in the cold and wet, and it has stayed in June ever since, so the offical birthday was created with the public in mind and the military participants.

[TheEricPollard]

She's the Queen, she can do that she wants. I'd have 3.

[duckymallard]

Originally Posted by Spot

There's also the traditional balcony appearance and flypast after the ceremony.

Oh how jolly nice. I bet the 4,000 military personnel who received their P45 this last week are jumping with joy at the expenditure of money from the MoD budget, just so Lizzie can look at the "shiny shiny"

[phylo_roadking]

Also, and of course - her real birthday would only fall on a saturday every seven years, so the Trooping Of The Colour would be out of step with her birthday six out of every seven years anyway. So as well as the weather/June issue, makes more sense to pick a regular saturday in June for the celebration.

[skp20040]

Originally Posted by duckymallard

Oh how jolly nice. I bet the 4,000 military personnel who received their P45 this last week are jumping with joy at the expenditure of money from the MoD budget, just so Lizzie can look at the "shiny shiny"

I think you will find they do not blame her and accept that ceremonial occasions are an important part of the official calendar in this country.