Queen Elizabeth to attend pop concert for 92nd birthday

LONDON — Queen Elizabeth is marking her 92nd birthday with a Saturday night concert in London featuring British singers such as Sting, Tom Jones and Jamie Cullum.

Kylie Minogue, Shaggy and Craig David also are set to perform for the “Queen’s Birthday Party” at Royal Albert Hall.

The Queen — the world’s longest-reigning living monarch — will be in the audience along with other members of the royal family. Prince Harry is expected to lead tributes to his grandmother in his new role as president of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

Earlier in the day, honorary gun salutes were staged in Hyde Park, the Tower of London and the town of Windsor to mark the occasion.

The Queen celebrates two birthdays every year: Her actual birthday on April 21, which she usually marks privately with her family, and her “official birthday” in the summer. That usually falls on the second Saturday in June, when she joins the Trooping the Color military parade in central London.

Queen Elizabeth’s official birthday this year came on the tails of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, which brought the leaders of the 53 Commonwealth countries together in England.

The Queen has led the disparate group, made up of Britain and its former colonies, since she too the throne in 1952.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement early Saturday wishing the monarch a happy birthday.

“I met with Her Majesty this week in London, as did many Commonwealth leaders from around the world. What was clear during our time together is that the affection and admiration so many of us feel is equally shared by people from every corner of the world,” he said in a written statement.

“As Canadians, we have shared many special moments with Her Majesty and the Royal Family and we look forward to many more to come.”

The Associated Press