UK's Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 96th b'day

London, April 21 (IANS) The UK's Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her 96th birthday on Thursday in Sandringham, where she will be joined by her family and friends.

On Twitter, The Royal Family account released a photograph to mark her birthday, showing the Queen with two ponies.

"Taken last month in the grounds of Windsor Castle, The Queen is pictured with two of her fell ponies, Bybeck Katie and Bybeck Nightingale," the account said.

A BBC report said Britain's longest-lived monarch had travelled by helicopter to her Norfolk estate and is expected to stay in a cottage on the estate particularly liked by her late husband, Prince Philip.

The Queen was in Sandringham earlier this year when she marked her accession to the throne in 1952.

Birthday wishes have been sent by Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Keir Starmer and gun salutes will be fired.

I’m delighted to wish Your Majesty a very happy 96th birthday.

Our hearts swell with appreciation and pride that Your Majesty is our Queen. https://t.co/HeDrXugNya

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 21, 2022

Today, Sophie and I are sending Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II our warmest wishes as she celebrates her 96th birthday. We join Canadians across the country and people around the world in wishing her continued health and happiness. My statement: https://t.co/j6fTid67vr

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 21, 2022

A Barbie doll celebrating the legacy of the Queen is being released to commemorate her Platinum Jubilee, featuring a recreation of her wedding tiara and an ivory gown fitted with a blue ribbon.

Photo courtesy of Instagram.