Happy Birthday, Queen.

Not Queen Victoria's, but I don't know of any sytatues of the current Queen. It's not Queen Elizabeth II's real birthday either (that's 21 April). And many argue that having the British monarch as our head of state is an anachronism as dated as the social mores of Queen Vicky's age. But noone is protesting about the long weekend holiday we get to enjoy today! And they don't even get a public holiday to blow out the candles in Britain, so we are very happy and grateful little colonials!

Why "celebrate" the Queen's anniversaire today? Well, I found this in a parliamentary speech:

"The concept of marking the King or Queen's birthday with a public holiday in Australia dates from 1788, when Governor Phillip declared a public holiday for convicts and settlers on the birthday of King George III on 4 June. Until 1936 the actual birthday of the reigning monarch was observed, but after the death of King George V it was decided to retain the day of his birthday, 3 June, or the nearest suitable day for the public holiday."

That may be so, but in Britain it's just a far nicer time of year to entertain the proles (and tourists) with a bit of colour and movement. In Britain, it is also celebrated in June, though not with a holiday. Her official website says:

"The Queen celebrates her actual birthday on 21 April. She also celebrates her official birthday on either the first or the second, and sometimes the third, Saturday in June. This year's official birthday will be celebrated on 17 June 2006.
The tradition of having an official birthday for the Sovereign was begun for practical reasons. Monarchs who had their birthdays in the winter months often encountered problems due to cold, wet weather spoiling parades and other outdoor celebrations.
King Edward VII, who was born on 9 November, was the first Sovereign to mark his official birthday on a separate day to his actual birthday throughout his reign, holding celebrations in either May or June.
Subsequent Monarchs had birthdays which fell at convenient times of the year, but the tradition was revived by The Queen's father, King George VI. He was born in mid-December, and so also 'moved' his birthday to June, when fine weather was more likely, and thus the tradition of the official birthday was established.
The Queen continues the tradition by celebrating her official birthday in June each year. Her Majesty usually spends her actual birthday privately at Windsor with friends and family whilst her official birthday is always marked in the same way with the Trooping of the Colour ceremony and a fly-past over Buckingham Palace."