The Queen’s life was celebrated with a spectacular equine-themed show featuring stars of stage and screen who performed in honour of her 90 years.
In the grounds of Windsor Castle – said to be the monarch’s favourite home – the Queen’s celebration was marked with majestic displays of famous horse troupes, both military and civilian, from across the globe and other performances featuring four-legged animals.
The monarch was joined in the royal box by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, as well as a number of minor royals.
Among the famous faces who performed in honour of the Queen were Kylie Minogue, Dame Helen Mirren and Dame Shirley Bassey, with duo Ant and Dec hosting the two-hour show, which was shown live on ITV.
A princess and a truly inspirational monarch
The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday on April 21, and Charles, patron of the celebrations, wished his mother “the happiest of very special birthdays”, writing in the official programme to mark the event, the culmination of the annual Windsor Horse Show.
Famous actors narrated the historic moments from the Queen’s life, starting with Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, who covered the monarch’s childhood years and introduced his wife Imelda Staunton, who performed a song.
Dame Helen took the audience through the monarch’s war years and how the nation fought against Nazi tyranny.
All eyes were on the Queen, who wore a sea-green dress with a lace overlay and a matching jacket by her personal assistant and dresser Angela Kelly. On her shoulder she wore a turquoise diamondsurround brooch.
One of the highlights of the night was a performance by Australian pop queen Kylie, who sang a version of her song I Believe In You.
As she performed, Jean-François Pignon, introduced as the ‘horse whisperer of France’, enthralled the spectators with his command of a group of horses including a Shetland pony.
A major part of the Queen’s life has been her role as head of the Commonwealth – the 53-nation organisation know as the family of nations.
Actor Damian Lewis told the crowds the Queen’s “commitment and dedication to it is immense”.
Additionally, military bands from across the Commonwealth performed but the New Zealand Army Band stole this part of the show playing Vangelis’s theme from the film Chariots of Fire, which had the spectators laughing as two of the band ran in slow motion.
The finale saw all the acts – from countries as diverse as Azerbaijan and Fiji – assemble in the main arena for the closing moments, when a birthday cake was brought before the crowds.
Dame Shirley Bassey sang the James Bond theme Diamonds Are Forever, before the Happy Birthday song was played, followed by the National Anthem.
Dec summed up the feelings of the crowds when he told the Queen: “Congratulations to you Ma’am on a remarkable milestone – 90 magnificent years – as a princess and a truly inspirational monarch.”