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the Lieutenant-Governor hosts a reception for the public at Government House to mark the Queen's Official Birthday at which he announces recipients of Birthday Honours]] The Queen's Birthday or '''Queen's Official Birthday''' is celebrated as a public Holiday in several Commonwealth countries (usually Commonwealth Realm s). It is also celebrated in Fiji , now a Republic . The exact date celebrated varies from country to country, and is usually not the current Queen 's actual birthday, April 21 (born 1926 ). When the reigning British Monarch is a King, then it is known as the '''King's Birthday''' or '''King's Official Birthday'''. In the United Kingdom , the Queen's Official Birthday is now celebrated on the first or second Saturday in June, and is marked in London by the ceremony of Trooping The Colour . Edward VII (reigned 1901-1910) who moved the ceremony to that date in the hope of good weather. The Birthday Honours is also announced at the time of the UK Official Birthday celebrations. In British diplomatic missions the day is treated as the National Day of the United Kingdom. Although not it is not celebrated as a public holiday in the UK (as it is not a working day), Civil Servants are given a "privilege day" at this time of year, which is merged with the Spring Bank Holiday (last Monday in May) to create a long weekend. Several Commonwealth Realms celebrate the Official Birthday as a Public Holiday , and most release a Birthday Honours List at this time. AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND . It also serves as the opening weekend to Australia's snow season, though it is quite common for there to be no Ski able snow until much later. In New Zealand , it is the first Monday in June, and owing to the climate being colder than Australia's, does usually serve as the opening weekend to the country's snow season. Observing Queen's Birthday in Australia and New Zealand on the actual date of the Queen's birth would be impractical as it would be too close to ANZAC Day four days later and the Easter Long Weekend . CANADA According to the legislation creating Victoria Day , Canada celebrates the Queen's official birthday that general holiday, the Monday on or before 24 May . However, it is not widely known that Victoria Day is intended to honour the current queen as well as Queen Victoria , who was born May 24, 1819. For Canadians Victoria Day is often considered the beginning of summer, when theme parks and outdoor pools are opened, and other summer activities begin. OTHER COUNTRIES AND TERRITORIES The Queen's official birthday is a public holiday in Gibraltar and Bermuda , and most other British Overseas Territories . In the Falkland Islands , the actual day of The Queen 's birth, April 21 , is celebrated, as June is a winter month in the Islands. It ceased to be a public holiday in Hong Kong after the territory's handover to the People's Republic Of China in 1997. Fiji also still celebrates the Queen's Official Birthday, along with the Prince Of Wales 's Birthday, even though the Queen ceased to be head of state in 1987. SEE ALSO |
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