Today, April 21, 2017 is Queen Elizabeth’s 91st birthday and it’s a very special day for the Brits. The Queen is loved by all and an inspiration to a nation that has struggled throughout the years with economic hardship, war and political turmoil. Elizabeth II is Britain's oldest monarch and the world's longest-reigning queen.

I was born in London and lived there as a small child. My parents always immersed us in British tradition. I always enjoyed having a cup of strong brewed tea in the late afternoon. The niceties of putting doilies on top of plates existed then and does today.

Pomp and circumstance is part of the U-Ks history.  Earlier today, the Royal Horse Artillery rode horse-and-gun carriages past Buckingham Palace before setting off a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park. The Queen’s birthday was also recognized with a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

Hip hip hooray for Queen Elizabeth! She is an icon and a feminist, too; ahead of her time. Elizabeth served in World War II in the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. She trained as a driver and mechanic. To date, Elizabeth is the only female member of the royal family to join the military and the only living head of state who served in World War II.

A little known fact about the Queen is she was able to chat with a man who broke into her Buckingham Palace quarters on July 9, 1982—putting the brakes on a potentially lethal encounter. A 31-year-old psychiatric patient, Michael Fagan, scaled a Palace drainpipe and snuck into Elizabeth’s chambers. The Queen woke up to the intruder, bleeding from a cut to his hand he got stumbling through dark halls. Not able to reach the police initially, she engaged the perpetrator in a conversation for over 10 minutes, listening to him talk about his personal problems. Thankfully, a footman awoke and subdued the intruder, who had been ordered to spend 6 months in a mental hospital. This is just one example of Elizabeth’s grace under fire.

When the beloved Princess Diana was killed in a tragic car accident in 1997 at the age of 36. Elizabeth was criticized for appearing aloof. However, I’ve read that she was deeply concerned about the welfare of Diana's and Prince Charles’ sons, Princes William and Harry. I remember watching the Queen’s speech on the telly following her daughter-in-law’s death and I found her to be moving and sincere. It is never easy to find the right words in the face of such a tragedy.

She has had her ups and downs, also enduring the divorces of 4 grown children, along with scandals. Her offspring were not able to duplicate the long marriage Elizabeth has enjoyed with Prince Philip.

To me, Queen Elizabeth is the epitome of grace and decency. Her Majesty allegedly gives everyone on her staff a Christmas gift. You can’t say that about most employers today.  

Many Happy Returns, Queen Elizabeth and many, many more. You have had good innings!