When Is Queen Elizabeth's 96th Birthday? How Is She Celebrating?

Queen Elizabeth will spend her 96th birthday on April 21 at Prince Philip's home at Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The Queen will reportedly travel to Norfolk by helicopter and stay at Wood Farm, known to be the "modest" farmhouse where Prince Philip lived following his retirement from public duties in 2017. The Queen and her husband were often seen enjoying their time in Sandringham, away from cameras. She is also known to have a strong emotional tie to Sandringham, which her late father, George VI, dearly adored.

Queen Elizabeth is said to be joined by members of her extended family across the weekend to celebrate her birthday. According to royal sources, this is a "positive step" as the Queen prepares to make the journey despite her ongoing mobility issues. The Queen's public appearances are now decided on a case-by-case basis since she tested positive for Covid-19 in February.

"The Queen decided very recently that on her birthday she wanted to be as close as possible to her late husband and in an environment that was very close to both of their hearts. Sandringham holds so many special memories for the Queen and Prince Philip as well as the rest of the royal family," the Mirror reported.

She is likely to spend time visiting her Royal Stud, being driven around her 20,000-acre estate, while in Norfolk. Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace is reportedly not planning any public engagements to celebrate the Queen's birthday. However, there will be tributes from family members and the organizations she has been involved with. The Queen has no significant confirmed engagements in her diary and the events to mark her Platinum Jubilee in June are still uncertain.

The Duke of Edinburgh lived in Wood Farm, a five-bedroom property, which he modernized himself. The Queen felt that her husband had earned his freedom and privacy after many years of royal service. Prince Philip died on April 17, 2021. In a new edition of Angela Kelly's book, "The Other Side of the Coin, The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe," the author described how the Queen dealt with Prince Philip's death, including some of the never-before-read details regarding the British monarch.