Happy Birthday, Queen Elizabeth!
image from Vanity Fair
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England, celebrated her 94th birthday on April 21, 2020. That is the date of her actual birthday.
The Queen actually has two birthday celebrations!
The British celebrate her birthday in a public way on the second Saturday in June. This public birthday celebration has been a tradition with the British monarchy since King George II in 1748. His birthday was in November, but because the weather is usually unpredictable then, the British government decided to officially celebrate his birthday in June.
This public celebration includes a parade called Trooping the Colour. 1400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians take part in this parade, and people watching it wave flags and wear Union Jacks, the national flag of the United Kingdom.
image from Pixabay
Queen Elizabeth II has been England's queen since 1952. She is the longest living British monarch, and she is the longest-reigning British monarch. Queen Elizabeth has been Britain's monarch while the following men were US Presidents: Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, G.W.Bush, Obama, and Trump.
I have always had a fascination with British royalty, and this is why: when I was a child, I watched the television show, Captain Kangaroo. One of the songs on that show was originally a poem written by A.A. Milne (the creator of Winnie the Pooh!). It was one of my favorite songs, and here are the words:
Buckingham Palace
by A.A. Milne
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terrible hard,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King, but he never came.
"Well, God take care of him, all the same,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They've great big parties inside the grounds.
"I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn't the King's.
"He's much too busy a-signing things,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
Says Alice.
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
Alice is marrying one of the guard.
"A soldier's life is terrible hard,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We saw a guard in a sentry-box.
"One of the sergeants looks after their socks,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
We looked for the King, but he never came.
"Well, God take care of him, all the same,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
They've great big parties inside the grounds.
"I wouldn't be King for a hundred pounds,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
A face looked out, but it wasn't the King's.
"He's much too busy a-signing things,"
Says Alice.
They're changing guard at Buckingham Palace -
Christopher Robin went down with Alice.
"Do you think the King knows all about me?"
"Sure to, dear, but it's time for tea,"
Says Alice.
This poem created so many images in my imagination! I loved the soldiers with their red jackets and bearskin hats:
image from Wikipedia
Do you have a poem or song that creates pictures in your mind? Take some time to sit outside and look up at the clouds and think of your favorite poem :)
That is all for today. See you on Friday!
