Royal Expert Reveals How The Queen Is Celebrating Her Birthday Differently This Year

As Queen Elizabeth rings in her 95th birthday, the celebration will look a little different than it has in the past.

Historically, the queen's birthday has been celebrated with two major events. Her actual birthday, which is on April 21, is often a private celebration. According to the royal website, the occasion is nevertheless marked by some fanfare, including "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." 

In the second celebration, which typically takes place in June, the entire royal family joins in the festivities for the "Trooping the Colour" parade. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the parade has been canceled for the second year in a row.

Of course, there is one major event that is shifting how Queen Elizabeth will spend her birthday: Prince Philip's death. On April 9, the queen's husband of 73 years died, leaving her in a state of mourning. 

While the queen may not be in the most festive mood, she is nonetheless celebrating her milestone birthday — it just looks a little different this year. Kinsey Schofield, a royal expert and founder of ToDiForDaily.com, a website about the British royal family, has given Nicki Swift exclusive insight about how the queen's birthday celebration will look different than years past. Keep reading to learn more about how Queen Elizabeth will likely spend her day. 

Queen Elizabeth's birthday will look a little different this year, though some celebration will likely happen. Royal expert and founder of ToDiForDaily.com, Kinsey Schofield, has offered us some insight into how the queen is celebrating in a more private way.

"If anyone were to stop in to see her today, I imagine it would be Sophie, Countess of Wessex and her daughter," Schofield explained to Nicki Swift of who might be part of the festivities. "Fergie, Duchess of York has also recently said that she's spending quite a bit of time with her." Prince Harry will not be in attendance.

As for how this birthday is different from others, there have been a few cancelations: "The queen normally releases a portrait on her birthday, but has canceled plans to debut that," Schofield explained, adding that the traditional gun salute throughout London has also been canceled.

Meanwhile, there's one tradition that may or may not still happen, which is the queen's chocolate cake. "Historically the kitchen has made her the same birthday cake passed on for generations, originated by Queen Victoria's chef," Schofield explained, adding that "the objective is for them all to look the same over the years."

Queen Elizabeth released a statement on her birthday, thanking people for their "good wishes" but noting that the family is "still in a period of great sadness" over Prince Philip's death. Schofield also reflects the queen's sentiments on her birthday: "Her heart is heavy and is still with Prince Philip."