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Photos: Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday celebration

A three-day celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday began Friday with a national service of thanksgiving for her 90th birthday at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JUNE 11: (L-R) Anne, Princess Royal, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Charles, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh watch a fly past during the Trooping the Colour, this year marking the Queen's 90th birthday at The Mall on June 11, 2016 in London, England. The ceremony is Queen Elizabeth II's annual birthday parade and dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th Century when the Colours of a regiment were used as a rallying point in battle. (Photo by Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images)

A three-day celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday began Friday with a national service of thanksgiving for her 90th birthday at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

The Queen's actual birth date is April 21, but the celebration takes place on a weekend in June. It's a tradition that began over two centuries ago with hopes of ensuring better weather for the festivities, according to the BBC.