London, April 22 (IANS): Britain celebrated the 89th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday, according to media reports.

The queen celebrated her 89th birthday privately at the Windsor Castle this year, Xinhua reported.

The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired six 13-pounder field guns and staged a 41-gun royal salute in Hyde Park in her honour.

The Honorable Artillery Company also fired a 62-gun royal salute near the Tower of London.

Elizabeth II, born on April 21, 1926, became the queen in 1952 when her father, King George VI, died.

The queen celebrates two birthdays each year -- one, her actual birthday on April 21 and the other, her official birthday on a Saturday in June, according to the Buckingham Palace.

The queen usually spends her actual birthday in private, but the occasion is marked publicly by gun salutes in central London at mid day.

Official celebrations to mark British sovereigns' birthdays have often been held on a day in summer other than their actual birthday, increasing the likelihood of sunny weather for the royal birthday parade, known as "Trooping the Colour".

The queen's birthday came at a time when Catherine, wife of the monarch's grandson Prince William, is expected to soon give birth to the royal family's newest member.