Happy birthday Queen Elizabeth II

Longest reigning monarch turns 90

HAPPY birthday ma’am.

The Queen has been a frequent visitor to West Berkshire during her 64-year reign, attending race days at Newbury Racecourse, visiting Vodafone’s headquarters in 2008 and St Bartholomew’s School in 1972 and 1993.

Today's Newbury Weekly News features a special photo spread charting her majesty's visits to West Berkshire throughout the years.

Beacons are to be lit across the realm today (Thursday) to mark the Queen becoming a nonagenarian.

Newbury Town Council will light a beacon in Victoria Park at 7.30pm, with a mini-Proms prior to the lighting at 7pm.

Thatcham residents can mark the occasion at a beacon-lighting at 7.30pm on Dunstan Green.

Aldermaston will be lighting a beacon in the field opposite St Mary’s Church, by permission of Frank and Olive West. The beacon will be lit by Lord of the Manor Andy Hall. The event is free and will begin at 7pm with drinks to toast the Queen. The bells of St Mary’s will ring out in celebration after the beacon is lit at 7.30pm.

The Queen has reigned longer than any monarch in British history, having surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria last year.