No British monarch has ever lived to be as old as Elizabeth II, who today celebrates her 90th birthday.

She has also reigned longer than any previous sovereign – 64 years in June – outlasting Victoria last September.

In her lifetime, the Queen has reigned over decades of change but has somehow managed to ride that wave and maintain the loyalty of her people.

She is vastly popular and her approval ratings are as high today as when she was crowned in 1952.

When she was 10 years old, her uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated, leaving the throne to her father, George VI.

When he died in February 1952, she became Queen at the age of 25 and dedicated her life to public service. Her coronation, the first to be televised, was not until a year later in June 1953.

Hundreds of people across the country and the world will celebrate her birthday today, either at official events or at parties with friends and families.

The Queen herself will light the first of 900 beacons that will be lit up around the UK and worldwide to celebrate her landmark achievement. Beacons will be lit across Cumbria, in Brampton, Houghton, Allonby and Workington.

Cadets from Cumbria Army Cadet Force will light a beacon on England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike. Others are also being lit on Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland.

When the cadets, who come from all over Cumbria, have completed their duty they will descend the 978-metre mountain in the dark and then camp at Wasdale Head.

As well as the beacons, celebratory street parties are expected to take place.

Official portrait photograph of the Queen

The Allonby Community Forum is hoping to hold a litter-picking event on the Queen’s official birthday in June, as well as a street party.

Doris Hetherington, 71, of Hopes Hill Drive, Harraby, Carlisle, loves the royals and is busy decorating her house with Union Jacks and bunting ahead of a party on Sunday to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.

Around 60 neighbours, friends and family along with 30 children, all of whom will receive party bag filled with hats, flags and Union Jack balloons, are coming.

This is not the first royal inspired party Mrs Hetherington has held. She has celebrated the family’s landmarks all her life. She danced at a street party for Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981, held a buffet for the Queen’s golden and diamond jubilees and organised parties for when Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born.

She says: “I’m really interested in them, especially Diana and Charles. It’s nice to see what the Queen’s done for our country and her family.”

When she was younger, Mrs Hetherington made scrap books of the royals and wishes she had kept them. She does still have a display of porcelain ornaments of Princess Diana, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen Mother on her windowsill, proudly showing her love of the royals.

Mrs Hetherington says of the Queen: “She’s very active. She’s doing very, very well. I’d like to see her beat her mum.”


Una Barratt Two other Cumbrians who are impressed with the Queen’s energy are Una Barratt, 84, of Lowry Hill, Carlisle, and James Craig, 81, of Newbiggin. The two were chosen to take part in the Royal Maundy service on Thursday, March 24, because of the Christian service they have given to the Church and community.

Members of the royal family have taken part in Maundy ceremonies since the 13th century, distributing money and gifts to people to recall Christ washing the feet of his disciples the day before Good Friday.

As many men and women receive Maundy money as there are years in the monarch’s age, so this year the Queen had 180 people to give purses to.

The red purse, for money in lieu of food and clothing, contained a £5 coin commemorating the Queen’s 90th birthday and a 50p coin marking the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings. The white purse contained uniquely minted Maundy coins, equating in pence to her age.

Ask Mr Craig anything about the ceremony at St George’s Chapel at Windsor and he will be able to tell you every detail. His memory of the special day is crystal clear and he was very impressed by the Queen.

He says: “It was wonderful. I wasn’t disappointed in any way. I had my own mind made up what she was like because as a boy I was given royal books by my parents’ friends.

“She turned out exactly the way I thought she would be like – very normal, kind, pleasant, just a sweet soul – and that’s what she was.”


James Craig Just before the Queen gave Mr Craig his purses, she leaned forward slightly to see how many people were left.

Mr Craig says: “She sort of blew her cheeks out as if to say, ‘Quite a bit to do, better get on’. She looked up to me with a smile. She realised I saw her do that, I don’t know if she was ashamed or anything but she was quite tickled that I saw her. She said, ‘Good morning’. I said, ‘Good morning Your Majesty’, and bowed.”

Mr Craig then exchanged a few more words with the Queen because his two purses had come apart slightly so he put both hands out to receive them.

“She smiled as if to say, ‘We have made good of a bad job’,” says James.

“The few words we said quietly to each other, you’d think we’d known each other years. She was a lovely person.”

Mrs Barratt was equally as thrilled to meet the Queen.

“I thought she was fabulous. It was only a brief meeting but oh so very special,” says Mrs Barratt. “After I’d received the Maundy money I looked up at her and smiled and she smiled back.

“It was a very special little moment. It didn’t last long but it was very special. It’s something you don’t forget.”

Mrs Barratt, who just like Mrs Hetherington has always followed the Queen’s life, was very surprised to be invited to the ceremony.

She says: “I received this envelope that was franked Buckingham Palace and to be quite honest I thought it was some new advertising. I’m not in the habit of receiving things with Buckingham Palace on them.

“I soon found out it wasn’t an advertising gimmick. It was something quite serious.

“I didn’t know whether I was coming or going to be honest. You don’t get that sort of thing very often.”

Mrs Barratt is a royalist through and through, as was her mother, who knew all the family connections. She previously saw the Queen in 1978 when the Maundy service was held in Carlisle Cathedral.

Mrs Barratt says: “I have just admired her all my life because she always does the right thing. She just acts in the way you would expect a queen to act.

“I think of her as a very brave person.”