Queen's birthday celebration

This year, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 74th birthday. Her official birthday is June 13, her actual birthday is April 21.

Since she and the Duke of Edinburgh just completed a busy two- week Royal Visit to Australia, a quiet day was planned for the event on April 21.

Each year, she, and other members of the Royal Family, make more than 2,500 visits to many organizations and groups in many parts of the United Kingdom.

More than 700 organizations covering a variety of circumstances benefit from the patronage or presidency of Queen Elizabeth II. They include hospitals and child-care charities, music and dancing academies and archaeological and zoological societies. She is known to be concerned that every one of these receives a visit at some time.

Apart from going out and about on official visits, the Queen also entertains thousands of people from all sections of the community at garden parties at Buckingham Palace, London, and at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland.

In July, they are due to go to Berlin, Germany, for the official opening of the new British Embassy there. And in October, they are going to Italy and will visit Pope John Paul at the Vatican, Rome.