Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates 89th Birthday

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom turned 89 today.

The Queen, who has been staying at the Windsor castle for the past month, will celebrate her birthday privately with other Royal Family members.

Queen Elizabeth was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on 21 April, 1926 at the Mayfair home of her mother's parents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore.

After the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia in January this year at age 90, she became the oldest monarch in the world.

The Queen’s official birthday, however, falls on 12 June. The tradition of two birthdays dates back to the time when, if monarchs were born in winter, the weather was deemed unsuitable for outdoor events.