Monday 16 May 2016

I believe in you





Her Maj the Queen had the biggest - and knowing her love of horses (no fewer than 900 were involved, including dancing ones, military ones, dressage ones and several of her own) probably her favourite - birthday party last night!



This spectacular pageant celebrating her life was organised as the closing ceremony for the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and featured a sparkling array of stars of stage and screen - including Dame Helen Mirren, Damian Lewis, Beverly Knight, Andrea Bocelli, Alan Titchmarsh, Gary Barlow, Imelda Staunton, James Blunt, Simon Callow, Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins.



Among the (available on the interwebs) stage performances: our ultimate Patron Saint Dame Shirl sang (of course) Diamonds Are Forever:




...and Our Princess Kylie Minogue performed I Believe In You:


The set-piece displays (narrated largely by Jim Carter - "Carson" from Downton Abbey) opened with a bang loud enough to make the audience (and the Royals) jump and went through the full span of HM's life, culminating in a huge presentation of all the Queen’s horses – from her show ponies and polo ponies to her racehorses, the Household Cavalry and even the Duke of Edinburgh’s carriage driving team.

Other participants in this spectacular included the Royal Cavalry of Oman, the huasos of Chile, the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, animals from the Royal Farms, the gun dogs from the Royal Kennels, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, The Fijian Armed Forces Band, the New Zealand Army Band, the South Australian Police Band, the Chelsea Pensioners, the Yeomen of the Guard, Highland dancers and the Queen’s Swan Uppers.

Edward, Earl of Wessex, his 12-year-old daughter Lady Louise Windsor, the Princess Royal and her daughter Zara Tindall all made a surprise appearance in the grand finale ahead of fireworks, "Happy Birthday" and "Three Cheers" from the assembled crowd.

I wish we had watched it now...


Gawd Bless Ya, Ma'am!

Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday Party official site

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