Queen Elizabeth II turns 96: Here’s how the Royal Family wished the monarch

Several members of the Royal Family paid tributes to Queen Elizabeth II as the reigning monarch turned 96 on Thursday. 

“Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a very happy 96th birthday today! An inspiration to so many across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world, it’s particularly special to be celebrating in this Platinum Jubilee year,” Prince William and Kate Middleton tweeted, along with a photo of them with the queen. 

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Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, also wished the queen with a series of photographs of her over the years. 

“Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a particularly special 96th birthday today, as we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee year,” they tweeted. 

Also Read: Prince Harry opens up about fatherhood, Elizabeth II and Diana

In addition, the official Instagram account of the Royal Family posted a photo of her that was taken when she was just 2 years old.

“Then Princess Elizabeth, she was the eldest daughter of The Duke and Duchess of York and was never expected to become Queen,” the caption read.

“Her life changed in 1936 when her uncle, King Edward VIII abdicated, her father became King George VI and the young Princess became the heir presumptive. Following the sad death of her father in 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II aged just 25, and this year is celebrating 70 years on the throne – a first in British history.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Windsor Horse Show released an image of the queen holding the reins of two white ponies as a nod to her well-known love for horses to mark her birthday. The picture was taken on the grounds of her Windsor Castle royal residence last month.