Queen's Official Birthday

The Queen's (or King's) Official Birthday is a significant day celebrated in Commonwealth realms to honor the reigning monarch. Interestingly, this celebration does not necessarily coincide with the monarch's actual birth date. Instead, the date varies from country to country, typically falling around late May or early June to take advantage of better weather in the Northern Hemisphere. This festive day is marked by public holidays, ceremonies, and the release of honors lists.

In Australia, the Queen's Birthday is usually observed on the second Monday in June, though Western Australia and Queensland have their own dates. In Canada, the monarch's official birthday is celebrated on the last Monday before May 25. New Zealand marks the occasion on the first Monday in June, though there is ongoing discussion about possibly replacing it with other holidays. In the United Kingdom, the monarch's birthday is commemorated on the second Saturday in June, featuring grand events like Trooping the Colour.

The celebration takes on different dates in various Commonwealth countries. For instance, Tuvalu celebrates it on the second Saturday in June, while the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands observe it on the second Monday in June. Some countries, like Fiji, have abolished the holiday due to political changes. Meanwhile, Malaysia continues to celebrate the official birthday of its monarch in June, even though it has an elected king.