Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II will be thrown a special 90th birthday celebration with horses, her favourite animals, at Windsor Castle.
The monarch turned 90 on April 21, but party organisers decided to add the celebration to the end of the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show, which she has not missed since she won a cup there in 1944.
The 900 performing horses will stage a re-enactment of the Queen’s life story, with set pieces from her birth through to World War II, her marriage and coronation, and her 64-year reign, ‘The Sunday Times’ reported.
The extravaganza, to be screened live on British TV on Sunday evening, will also include music from Kylie Minogue and appearances by British actors Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis.
Military bands and ceremonial troops have flown in from Oman, Canada and other parts of the Commonwealth for the party, hosted by the Queen’s son and heir Prince Charles and wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, with other royals attending.
The closing scenes will feature one of the Queen’s show horses, Barber’s Shop, a thoroughbred that won its category at the show last week.
The celebration, funded by sponsors, is expected to produce a 1 million pound surplus, which will go to various charities supported by the monarch.
Rare family photographs has also been released to mark the celebration.
In one photo, seen publicly for the first time, shows a young, smiling, future Queen and then Princess Elizabeth with her sister, Margaret, and their father, George VI, each holding one of her beloved corgi dogs.
Another photo shows Princess Elizabeth ready to go for a swim with her father, standing alongside George VI on the edge of an outdoor swimming pool.
In a third she is seen looking intently as a bird rests on her arm.
