The Queen's Birthday

Happy birthday to Queen Elizabeth II who will turn 92 on April 21st! Whilst this is her date of birth, the Queen's official birthday takes place in June. All British sovereign are given the option of choosing an 'official' birthday to celebrate. This tradition dates back to 1748 when King George II decided to celebrate his birthday twice - once on his date of birth in November and again in the Summer, having decided that Autumn wouldn't be an ideal time for public celebration because of the weather.

On her birthday in April, the Queen will celebrate privately but the occasion will be marked by gun salutes in London at midday - a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21 gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62 gun salute at the Tower of London. For her official birthday in June, a parade will take place in central London.

Here are a few fun facts about a hugely interesting figure in British history, Queen Elizabeth II -

• She is the only person in the UK who is allowed to drive without a licence
• She is the longest reigning monarch ever in Britain, beating Queen Victoria
• The Queen first sent an email in 1976
• She has seen 12 Prime Ministers come to power
• Her favourite dog breed is the Corgi
• She is a trained mechanic after having joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II
• She has sent around 50,000 Christmas cards to date, and counting..

In celebration of Her Royal Majesty, we took a look around Alfies for a few objects dedicated to her:

A Royal Worcester 'Queen's 8th Birthday' figurine. Available from W & L Antiques

A selection of memorabilia mugs, c1950s. Available from W & L Antiques

A Silver Jubilee swim costume by Speedo, 1977. Available from Tin Tin Collectables

A selection of memorabilia mugs, c1950s. Available from W & L Antiques

A set of tea forks with the royal insignia, 1937. Available from Goldsmith & Perris

A Silver Jubilee stationary set, 1977. Available from W & L Antiques

A Silver Jubilee scrapbook, 1977. Available from W & L Antiques

A Royal Welcome at Buckingham Palace

Visitors to Buckingham Palace this summer will receive a royal welcome as part of a new exhibition, A Royal Welcome. See first-hand how the Palace copes with the 62,000 guests it entertains each year during state banquets, investitures, garden parties and private audiences.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is the state banquet: a table is set up just as it was for a state visit by the President of Singapore in October 2014. For the first time, tourists will be allowed to enter the State rooms through the Grand Entrance, following in the footsteps of kings, queens and presidents. 

While in their current incarnation state banquets are largely a 20th-century innovation, Queen Victoria wrote in her diary about entertaining Napoleon III of France in 1855, ‘in the usual dining room’. The following year, after vast renovations, she added a new Ballroom, having appealed to Prime Minister Robert Peel for ‘a room capable of containing a larger number of persons whom the Queen has to invite in the course of a season’. State banquets have been held here since 1914.

At Alfies we came across a few beautifully ornate antiques that wouldn't look out of place in the Royal residence...

Limoges Porcelain Centre-Piece & Stand, offered by Nadine Okker

1893 Fruit cutlery set, Sheffield silver plate with pearl handles by Charles James Allen & Sidney Darwin, offered by Goldsmith & Perris

Italian Capodimonte vase with cover, classical scene, c1920, offered by Gloria Sinclair

A beautiful early 20th century silver horse riding trophy by D & M Davies. Birmingham 1921, offered by Goldsmith & Perris

A pair of W. Adams & Co. Cattle Scenery vegetable dishes. 1891-1903, offered by Horner Antiques

Overmantle mirror with semi-reflective glass. Probably mid 20th century European. Offered by Matt Mitchell London

A Royal Welcome will run until 27 September, 2015.

Opening times 
25 July - 31 August 2015
Open daily, 09:30-19:30
1-27 September 2015
Open daily, 09:30-18:30