Birthday celebrations are being held this weekend for Queen Elizabeth II; her official birthday that is, not her actual birthday which was in April.

Edward VII, who reigned from 1901 to 1910, was born in November. He celebrated officially in May or June because there was less chance of it being cold and drizzly during the outdoor event.

Then the Queen's father, George VI, whose birthday was in December, reintroduced the tradition of an official birthday, which Elizabeth II has continued.

George VI had his official birthday on the second Thursday of June. In 1959, after several years on the throne, the Queen changed it to the second Saturday for convenience.

It can now be on either the first or the second, and sometimes the third Saturday of the month and is marked by Trooping the Colour carriage and horse procession in central London and a fly-past over Buckingham Palace.

The above is a Miniature sheet I found this afternoon – it gave me the idea to write this along with a competition – the winner will receive it.

Send me the answer to the following – what was the face value of the stamps that were on the First Day of Issue cover for the first Wilding Definitives issued in 1952?

Email me at cddstamps@gmail.com   PLEASE include your mailing address or I cannot mail if you are the winner – winner will be first correct entry received.

All the best … Michael

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