LONDON -- Britain marked Queen Elizabeth II's 91st birthday on Friday with gun salutes, as the monarch celebrated quietly at home.
A troop of the Royal Horse Artillery rode horse-and-gun carriages past Buckingham Palace before staging a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park at noon (1100GMT.)
Thank you to the @IrishGuardsBand for celebrating The #QueensBirthday today during Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace today. pic.twitter.com/SP5ej3o0h8
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2017
Outside the palace, a band of guardsmen in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats played "Happy Birthday" during the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
There was a second salute with 62 guns at the centuries-old Tower of London.
Queen Elizabeth II pictured at just one month old at her christening – 91 years ago#HappyBirthdayHerMajesty #Queenat91 pic.twitter.com/QqrgZCQL1U
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 21, 2017
The queen is Britain's oldest and longest-reigning monarch, having become queen on Feb. 6, 1952. She is also the world's longest-reigning living monarch since the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej last year.
The queen usually spends her birthday privately. She also has an official birthday, marked in June -- when the weather is better -- with the "Trooping the Colour" military parade.