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COMMUNITIES across Cumbria have marked the Queen’s 96th birthday by wishing the longest-serving monarch a many happy returns.
The Queen was inundated with birthday messages on Thursday after marking her 96th year privately on her Sandringham estate.
The occasion was marked with the release of a picture showing the Queen indulging her passion for horses and ponies.
CELEBRATE: Her Majesty The Queen celebrated her 96th birthday with two white fell ponies. Credit: Royal Windsor Horse Show/henrydallalphotography.com
READ MORE: Queen’s 96th birthday celebrated with release of new photograph
Well-wishers from across the world bid the monarch many happy returns, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who called the monarch an ‘inspiration to so many across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world’, and shared a photo of the Queen and Prince Philip with seven of their great-grandchildren.
CUTE: The Royal Family shared this photograph of the young Princess Elizabeth aged two
The Queen has also received birthday wishes from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and gun salutes were fired in her honour on Thursday.
The Furness community came together to wish the Queen a many happy returns.
A spokesman for Barrow BID said: “Happy 96th birthday to HM The Queen.
“We are looking forward to celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee in Barrow town centre on Saturday June 4, when we partner with event lead CandoFM and BarrowFull to bring a street party to Dalton Road.
“The event will include a live music stage with music from each decade of HM’s reign, street entertainment, arts, crafts and activities to suit all ages.
“Sadly HM The Queen will not be in attendance, but we have booked a Queen tribute band.”
SMILES: Ann and Sheila Todd with the Queen at HMS Sheffield launch in Barrow in 1971
The Sir John Barrow Monument on Hoad Hill was also lit up purple on Thursday evening to celebrate the Queen’s birthday.
The Hoad boasted a colour often associated with royalty as a tribute to our monarch.
A spokesman for Cumbria County Council said: “A very happy 96th birthday to Her Majesty The Queen from Cumbria County Council.”
Queen Elizabeth II has been to Barrow several times during her long reign – the first time being in 1956 with the Duke of Edinburgh to visit Barrow Town Hall.
MILESTONE: The Queen opens Barrow’s new indoor market in 1971
READ MORE: Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Her Majesty’s visits to Barrow across 70 years
She has visited Barrow shipyard for key launches, including that of Dreadnought, Britain’s first nuclear-powered submarine, in October 1960, and the aircraft carrier Invincible during her 1977 silver jubilee year.
Her Majesty also paid a visit to the town in 1971 to mark the newly-opened Barrow Market after the former market was demolished. In the same visit, the Queen officially launched the HMS Sheffield in Barrow.
In 1985, the Queen returned to Barrow for the official opening of Furness General Hospital in May.
The Mail itself had a visit from the Queen – she had a tour of the offices in Abbey Road to mark the paper’s centenary on February 20 1998, while the Duke of Edinburgh went to the CCW American candle factory at Sandscale Park.
DELIGHTED: Evening Mail Newspaper delliverer of the year Robert Fowler presenting the Queen with a copy of the Evening Mail
During that same visit, the Queen visited the shipyard to officially name the amphibious assault ship Ocean.
Thousands turned out at the railway station and at the Barrow yard to see the Queen’s visit.
