Right royal parties mark 90th

A royal princess, or was it Abbeyfield House resident Dot Palmer in disguise, celebrates the 90th Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II yesterday. Photo / John Stone

She's New Zealand's head of state and Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday was celebrated in style with a number of birthday parties in her honour in Whangarei.

The SuperBlues - a group of National Party supporters aged over 60, put on a special celebration and high tea to celebrate the Queen's birthday yesterday, while staff and residents of Abbeyfield House in Mains Ave put on their own birthday party.

Shirley Faber is the Northland co-ordinator of SuperBlues and said the special event was a way for monarchists to show their support for Queen Elizabeth II as she turns 90.

Abbeyfield resident Joy Allen took her Royal corgi - aka Sally Stirling - for a walk during the right royal birthday party. Photo / John Stone

Mrs Faber said the event, at Maunu Village Hall had a "pretend monarch", some special guests, and plenty of pomp an ceremony.

At Abbeyfield House the 12 residents were joined by committee members and staff to raise a glass to celebrate the monarch's birthday.

Abbeyfield housekeeper Sharon Smith said the residents had a great time organising the event then dressing up for the party.

Ms Smith said the residents were a loyal, royal bunch who wanted to mark the Queen's birthday, with the party still going at 6pm last night.

Queen Elizabeth II was born on April 21, 1926. She became Queen on February 6, 1952 and became the longest-reigning British monarch on September 9, 2015, when she surpassed the reign of her great great grandmother, Queen Victoria.

New Zealand Post is celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday with a special series of stamps and a limited edition silver coin.

To mark her birthday, New Zealand Post has produced "lenticular" or moving stamps that feature nine different images of the Queen on just three stamps.