Queen Declines Knife From Her Aide As She Slices Cake With Sword

Jun 14, 2021 by apost team

It's customary for the royal family to celebrate and commemorate events throughout the year and when it comes to their birthdays, sometimes it's twice a year. Queen Elizabeth II has two birthdays recognized — the day she was born on April 21, 1926, and her "official" birthday in June. This day is commemorated by the annual "Trooping the Colour" event.

Trooping the Colour, the event that usually takes place on the second Saturday of June, is a large parade that features over 1,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians. The Royal Air Force even puts on an aerial display for all to enjoy. A big parade takes place that begins at Buckingham Palace — Her Majesty's official residence — and moves to Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall, along The Mall, and finally Downing Street, before turning back again. The royal family then gathers on a balcony at Buckingham Palace in order to greet the crowd that has gathered below. 

This year's celebration was much more lowkey, as the royal family is still mourning the Duke of Edinburgh and following pandemic restrictions. June's Trooping the Colour event was officially canceled, marking only the third time in her reign that the parade hasn't taken place. However, the queen did not spend the second Saturday of June idly.

After first hosting the opening event for the G7 leaders' summit, which is taking place in the UK right now, Elizabeth moved on to attend a The Big Lunch event organized by The Eden Project to promote community and happiness across the UK. As the event took place on what would have been the queen's birthday celebration, The Big Lunch presented a big custom birthday cake to the delighted monarch.

Last Saturday, the queen was the host of an open-air reception for G7 leaders at the Eden Project, where she was joined by the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Britain's royals appeared to be dazzling the world's most powerful political leaders with a royal charm offensive at an all-out, full-blown reception.

The queen proved to be a hit, making G7 leaders laugh when she quipped "are you supposed be looking as if you're enjoying yourself" as she posed for a photograph, the Daily Mail reported. Despite the fact that the day would have been used to celebrate her birthday under normal circumstances, the monarch seemed to be in high spirits and not at all disappointed to host a political event instead.

Leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden were pictured chatting amicably to the attending royals.

Following the reception, Elizabeth, Camilla and Kate went on to attend an event celebrating The Big Lunch.

The Big Lunch is an annual get-together for communities across the UK, which encourages people to share friendship and food with each other in the hopes of getting to know each other better as neighbors as people. 

It has been running since 2009 and was brought into being by the Eden Project, which in turn is supported by the National Lottery of the UK. 

Peter Stewart, who is the executive director of the Eden Project, introduced the three royal women to around twenty selected guests. 

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Speaking to the Daily Mail, Stewart commented on the fact that all three ladies rarely attend the same event together:

"It is like comets - they don't come around very often. I was trying to remember the last time that the three were on an official engagement together like this. I can only think of one at Fortnum and Mason but this was something else. The important thing for me was there was every reason not to do it.

The fact that they judged that with the eyes of the G7 that there was an opportunity - with the risk of missing trains and everything else - to be able to listen to some of the heartfelt stories of people here. It was absolutely priceless."

Visibly moved by the royals' decision to attend the charity event, Stewart presented a large, Big Lunch-themed birthday cake to the delighted queen. The monarch immediately took things into hand and appropriated the ceremonial sword of a member of her entourage, Edward Bolitho, who serves as the Lord-Lieutenant of Cornwall.

When an aide told the queen that there was a conventional knife available and within reach, the queen replied cheerfully: "I know there is, this is more unusual." Kate, Camilla and other people nearby immediately had to chuckle or laugh. The queen, not deterred in the slightest, proceeded to cut the first piece of the cake using the ceremonial sword.

Unfortunately, ceremonial swords are not the sharpest tools available. Duchess Camilla had to step in and help the queen with the slicing, and afterward, Elizabeth did move on to a more conventional cutting implement.

It is good to see that the queen still has a sense of humor despite the serious title and duties she holds. What do you think about her cutting the cake with a sword? Would you also have had the idea to do this? Tell us what you think and pass this along to fellow royals fans!