Re: afba website

Geep <Geep@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>In message <nidf535umm50hko48r8jft35ur2j4774a1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, 
>kd***ton@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 writes
>>On Fri, 25 May 2007 20:45:07 +0100, Geep <Geep@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>Oh that life were that simple.  Scotland loves to be different
>>
>>Not as strange as why Brits celebrate the Queen's birthday in June???
>>Not sunny enough in April?
>
>Strange, innit?  The tradition is only about a hundred years old, I 
>think, and the official birthday is always the same time of year (but 
>not the exact date every year), regardless of the date of birth of the 
>then monarch.

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.


____
Chimaera