Birthday party fit for a queen

British singer Gary Barlow crooning away while Jaguar sports cars are driven around the arena during the final night of the 90th birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Windsor Horseshow. 	The event, held on the grounds of Windsor C
PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

British singer Gary Barlow crooning away while Jaguar sports cars are driven around the arena during the final night of the 90th birthday celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Windsor Horseshow.

The event, held on the grounds of Windsor Castle on Sunday, featured a 90-minute show that told the remarkable story of the Queen's life, encompassing a reign spanning more than 60 years.

Queen Elizabeth II overtook her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria last year to become Britain's longest-serving monarch. The extravaganza featured over 900 horses and 1,500 performers, capping three days of celebration at the castle to mark the monarch's April 21 birthday milestone. The show also featured archive footage telling the story of the Queen's life, interspersed with live horse performances, and accompanied by music.

Other highlights included an acrobatic and glittering display by the Royal Cavalry of Oman, accompanied by bagpipes. There was also plenty of musical entertainment on offer, with Barlow from British pop group Take That opening the show, and Australian pop star Kylie Minogue singing her hit I Believe In You.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 17, 2016, with the headline Birthday party fit for a queen. Subscribe