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The Queen's 80th Birthday
Queen Elizabeth ll celebrated her 80th birthday in 2006.
When did the Queen's 80th Birthday Celebrations take place?
Most of the Celebrations took place around Her Majesty's actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on 17 June.
Find out why the Queen has two birthdays
Where did the events take place?
Events took place at both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle and combined private family celebrations with more public occasions.
The Queen's 80th Birthday Celebrations 2006
 80th birthday reception and lunch - London
On 19 April 2006, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh hosted a reception and lunch at Buckingham Palace for some of those people who were celebrating their 80th birthday on 21 April 2006. |
Birthday dinner
The Prince of Wales hosted a family dinner for The Queen on the evening of 21 April 2006. |
 Family Service of Thanksgiving - Windsor
On Sunday, 23 April 2006, Members of The Royal Family attended a special Service of Thanksgiving at St George's Chapel, Windsor, to celebrate The Queen's 80th birthday. |
 National Service of Thanksgiving - London
On 15 June 2006, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh attended a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral followed by a Lunch given by the Lord Mayor and the Corporation of London. |
Children's Garden Party - London
On 25 June 2006, The Queen hosted a "birthday" Garden Party at Buckingham Palace for children from all over the UK.
Two thousand children, between four and 14, were invited, their names having been chosen from a ballot. The party was televised live on the BBC.
The "Children's Party at the Palace" celebrated British children's literature by inviting children, grandparents, parents or guardians, along with characters from Britain's favourite storybooks, to a tea party and unique entertainment show at Buckingham Palace.
Characters including Tracy Beaker, Paddington Bear, Mowgli, Winnie the Pooh and the Gruffalo joined guests in the garden. At 6pm, Sophie Dahl, granddaughter of Roald Dahl, appeared on stage to introduce a specially written show for all the nation to watch live on the BBC. Mary Poppins, the White Rabbit and Captain Hook starred along with the Royal Ballet who performed a Beatrix Potter vignette.
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Special travelling exhibition of works by Leonardo da Vinci
Ten of the Royal Collection's finest drawings by Leonardo da Vinci travelled to museums and galleries in Exeter, Aberdeen, Leeds and Cardiff in 2006 to mark The Queen's 80th birthday. |
Queen's gowns and gems were put on display
Eighty dresses, dating from the 1940s to the present day, were on display at Buckingham Palace. |
Stamps
To mark the Queen’s 80th birthday on 21 April, Royal Mail issued eight warm and informal photographic portraits taken throughout her life.
The eight stamps showed Her Majesty from every decade except the decade of her birth and the 90’s. Pictures of Her Majesty in her early years were a bit thin on the ground especially as the brief dictated that she would need to be laughing or smiling.
You can see the stamps here |
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