HILLINGDON has a series of free events organised to celebrate the Queen's 90th official birthday this weekend.

The paediatric wards at Hillingdon Hospital prepared today with a day of arts and crafts, kitting out the Peter Pan ward with bunting and union jack flags.

Children designed colourful royal masks and crowns, decorated cakes and made their own birthday cards to send to Buckingham Palace.

Hospital play specialist Pat McGee said: “As this is such a historic occasion, I wanted to make sure the children had the chance to join the rest of the nation in wishing the Queen a happy birthday.”

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21 and turned 90 this year. But she also has an official birthday every June, which falls this year on June 11, this Saturday.

St John’s Church in Royal Lane will hold afternoon tea, activities, words and music on the day, 2-6pm, and a celebration and thanksgiving service on Sunday at 10.30am.

Children can enjoy a free treasure hunt on Ruislip High Street courtesy of Ruislip Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday 9am-5pm.

Uxbridge Library has a royal tea dance on Friday, 3-5pm, and a coffee morning with a special performance from St Andrew's School Choir, the same day 10am-12noon.

Children under five will be told a ‘story fit for a Queen’ in storytime and craft activities at the library on Saturday, 11am and 2pm, while the next day the same venue hosts a royal reminiscence session at 1pm, and a ‘Right Royal Street Party’ in the atrium with tea and cakes and a Singability Hillingdon sing-along, 2-4pm.

A Society of Ruislip Artists art exhibition at Uxbridge Library includes a display in celebration of the Queen and is running until next Thursday, June 16.

The tradition of two birthdays - believed to date back nearly three centuries to King George II - is so the royal family can hold the grand military parade, known as Trooping the Colour, in the summer. 

The forecast for Saturday is unsettled and rather cloudy with showers.

The parade takes place on Horse Guards Parade behind Whitehall and is televised live by the BBC from 10am. 

After the parade the royal family traditionally gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a military fly-past. 

To book a place at any of the Uxbridge Library events, call 01895 250714.