In her annual Christmas Day broadcast, the Queen said that she was "looking forward to a busy 2016". Not only does she have a full schedule of engagements lined up, but Her Majesty also has extra special celebrations to get excited about, on the occasion of her 90th birthday.
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Royal insiders are anticipating a slight change of pace for the Queen, however, after her official birthday celebrations in the summer.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Queen turns 90 years old in April
"She will not be doing less, just doing it more gently," a Palace source told HELLO! magazine. "There is a lot happening between now and July, so it is about trying to find new ways for her to work less strenuously."
As the Queen moves into her tenth decade, she will gradually start to spend more time at Balmoral in the summer, and longer periods at Windsor Castle over weekends to conserve energy.
Public duties will be packed into fewer days to allow for more downtime and younger members of the family, such as Prince Charles, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, will be expected to continue to step up their own engagements to support her.
© Photo: Getty ImagesIn her Christmas broadcast, the royal said she was "looking forward to a busy 2016"
For her actual birthday in April, the Queen will most likely spend the day celebrating at Windsor. She will be in London for a series of special commemorations in June.
Her annual birthday parade Trooping the Colour will take place on 11 June. The day before – Prince Philip's 95th birthday – a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral has also been arranged.
On 12 June the entire royal family is expected to turn out for The Patron's Lunch – a street party for 10,000 people on The Mall to celebrate the Queen's patronage of more than 600 charities and organisations.
