Members of the British royal family led tributes to Queen Elizabeth II on her 96th birthday on Thursday.
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, along with Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were among the first to celebrate the monarch, who is the longest-reigning in British history.
A post from the official Twitter account for the royal family shared a portrait of the queen, taken in 1928, when she was aged 2.
“Happy Birthday Your Majesty,” the tweet said. “Today, as the Queen turns 96, we’re sharing this photograph of the young Princess Elizabeth aged 2.
“Then, in 1928, it was never expected she would be Queen, and this year Her Majesty is celebrating her #PlatinumJubilee — a first in British history.”
The Clarence House account, the official Twitter of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, shared a series of photographs, including one showing the Prince of Wales kissing the hand of his mother.
“Wishing Her Majesty the Queen a particularly special 96th birthday today, as we celebrate her Platinum Jubilee year,” the tribute said.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also shared two pictures, one of the couple with the queen at the Chelsea Flower Show and another of the queen and Prince Philip surrounded by their great-grandchildren.
“Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a very happy 96th birthday today,” the couple’s official Kensington Royal account tweeted. “An inspiration to so many across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world, it’s particularly special to be celebrating in this #PlatinumJubilee year."
A new official portrait of the queen was released to mark her birthday, paying tribute to the monarch’s lifelong love of horses.
The portrait, which shows the queen holding the reins of two of her white Fell ponies, was taken in March on the grounds of Windsor Castle by Henry Dallal, who also took the official portrait for her 90th birthday.
To celebrate her birthday, the queen travelled from Windsor to her Sandringham estate to stay at the property loved by her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
COPA DEL REY
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
More on Quran memorisation:
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The five pillars of Islam
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
If you go…
Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.
Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days.
more from Janine di Giovanni
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
