The Queen joined by Duke of Kent at Trooping the Colour 2021 - best photos

The Queen marked her official birthday at a low-key Trooping the Colour ceremony at Windsor Castle on Saturday. The monarch's cousin, the Duke of Kent, was by Her Majesty's side for the parade in the Castle's Quadrangle in his role as the Colonel of the Scots Guards.  

It’s been a busy week of public outings for the Queen, during which she travelled to the G7 Summit in Cornwall with senior members of the royal family. The monarch joined the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Cambridge at the Big Lunch initiative at the Eden Project. 

The Queen prompted laughter from Kate and Camilla when she used a ceremonial sword to cut a cake during the engagement.

She also marked what would have been her late husband the Duke of Edinburgh's 100th birthday on Thursday.

READ: Trooping the Colour explained: the history, the fashion, the photos and the highlights

WATCH: The Queen arrives for Trooping the Colour with the Duke of Kent

The Queen wore a repeat grey and lemon outfit by Angela Kelly with a matching hat for the ceremony. She accessorised with a string of pearls and her Aquamarine Bar brooch. 

She also carried one of her trusty Launer handbags, which she placed by her feet as she watched the parade. 

MORE: The Queen celebrates her birthday in style with symbolic nod to the Queen Mother

The Colour or ceremonial flag being trooped past the soldiers was the Colour of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards with the regiment's F Company given the task of performing the honour.

On parade in front of the Queen in bright summer sunshine was an array of socially distanced Guardsmen, mounted Troopers and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

They were joined by a massed band of the Household Division – musicians from all of the five Foot Guards Bands and the 1st Battalion Scots Guards Pipes and Drums.

The servicemen and women on parade numbered almost 275, with 70 horses, compared with the 85 soldiers who took part in the ceremony last summer.

MORE: When royals make their debuts at the Queen's birthday parade

Members of the Household Division arriving at the Quadrangle at Windsor Castle, where the ceremony took place. 

Last year's Trooping the Colour also took place at the Berkshire royal residence amid the pandemic. 

MORE: Who is the Duke of Kent and why will he join the Queen at her birthday parade?

Soldiers and musicians from the Massed Band of the Household Division on the parade area at Windsor Castle ahead of the start of the Queen's official birthday celebrations.

The ceremony will allow the Guardsmen to show their precision marching skills while maintaining a social distance of just over two metres.

The event replaces the Trooping the Colour ceremony normally staged in central London which could not be held in its traditional form because of coronavirus.

The Queen's face lit up during the RAF fly-past at the end of the ceremony. 

She was also spotted tapping her feet in time to the music, as the band played. 

The fly-past over Windsor Castle made for a spectacular sight. Traditionally the royals would gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch.