A giant cake, a short walkabout, royal gun salutes, and 1,000 bonfires were just part of the celebrations happening across the United Kingdom as Queen Elizabeth II turned 90. On Twitter, #HappyBirthdayYourMajesty was trending with well-wishes and memes for the monarch, who deserves respect and praise for the age milestone alone, but she’s earning it for much more.

Special shortbread tins, special beer, and even a “Burger King” sign changed to “Burger Queen” were touted in honor of the Queen, who last year gained the title of Britain’s longest-ever reigning monarch. Since her reign began, there have been 12 U.S. presidents and seven Roman Catholic popes.

Close

Crowds were 10 deep outside Windsor Castle to see Elizabeth, carrying a purse as she always does, and her husband Prince Philip — who turns 95 in June — as they stepped out to greet fans, who handed her bouquets.

“All of us are here to respect the queen and to show her our affection and how much we appreciate all her years of service and to wish her a happy birthday,” Donna Werner, who traveled to Windsor from Connecticut, told Reuters. Service is something Her Royal Highness has taken very seriously throughout her years on the throne. According to The Daily Telegraph, Queen Elizabeth carried out more engagements last year than Prince William, his wife Kate, and Prince Harry combined.

[lz_third_party includes=”https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/723135747126120449″ width=”630px”]

Prime Minister David Cameron said in Parliament that the queen has been a “rock of strength” for the nation.

To further mark the auspicious occasion, the palace released an adorably cute photo of Queen Elizabeth and her three heirs — Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George. The future king, 2, was only too happy to stand on blocks so that he could be on the same level with Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandma. He has mastered the art of smiling — and further stealing our hearts — even better than his older royal relatives.

[lz_third_party includes=”https://twitter.com/mashable/status/723132698932445184″ width=”630px”]

“He (George) was absolutely charming as you can see from the picture,” photographer Ranald Mackechnie told the Telegraph. “I took maybe 80 or 100 shots, but when I saw this one, I knew straightaway that was it.” The photo will be used for a set of stamps to commemorate the 90th birthday.

George and his baby sister Charlotte are helping to fuel our ongoing obsession with the royals. Although the American revolutionaries long ago rejected colonial government, that didn’t stop us from falling in love with Princess Diana and her fairytale story in the 1980s. During Diana’s years in public life, Americans loved to watch her rise to fame, follow her fashion sense, and sympathize with her way of coping with a crumbling marriage and with the rules of being a member of the royal family.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

Now, we’re seeing same obsession with Prince William and his wife Kate, who have risen to a spot of reverence and adoration as they are far more well-behaved, stately, and traditional than any Hollywood celebrities. Of his grandmother, Prince William said on Sky News: “She’s been a very strong female influence. And having lost my mother at a young age, it’s been particularly important to me that I’ve had somebody like the Queen to look up to and who’s been there and who has understood some of the more, um, complex issues when you lose a loved one.”

[lz_related_box id=”32845″]

Also marking the special day, three royal portraits were released. They were taken by American photographer Annie Leibovitz at Windsor Castle last month with the idea of evoking the great royal oil paintings of the past.

In one, toddler Mia Tindall, daughter of royal Zara Phillips (second eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II) and her England rugby player husband Mike Tindall, holds ‘Gan-Gan’s’ handbag, notes the Daily Mail. It’s perfect.

This birthday bash is just the beginning for her majesty. April 21 marks her actual birthday, but lavish celebrations commemorating the occasion won’t take place until June 10-12, when her birthday is officially celebrated, with many more festivities planned.

The queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne) in 2012, and looks to be in fine form as she heads to her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. Remember: Her mother, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, lived to be 101.