DUKE CELEBRATES 86TH BIRTHDAY

Philip will be marking the milestone privately at Windsor with the Queen.

The senior royal - born on June 10 1921 in Corfu - shows no sign of slowing down and has had an active past 12 months.

He has accompanied the monarch on official functions and visits, both in the UK and abroad, and carried out many of his own engagements.

Philip is a "twitcher", a prolific writer and is worshipped as a god by islanders in the Pacific.

He is also a member of the House of Lords, hands over a tiddlywinks trophy each year and once hosted a reception in the Antarctic for lonely scientists which included the screening of the film Seven Brides For Seven Brothers.

The birthday will be commemorated with customary gun salutes in the capital, but as the anniversary falls on a Sunday they will be held on Monday.

Forty-one rounds will be fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Hyde Park at midday.

An hour later, 62 rounds will be fired at the Gun Wharf near the Tower of London by the Honorary Artillery Company.