Elizabeth II becomes the first reigning monarch to reach the milestone on Thursday, April 21.

A chain of blazing beacons will begin a summer of celebration across the land.

Norfolk's Lord Lieutenant Richard Jewson said: 'We can all unite in congratulating Her Majesty on the occasion of her 90th birthday.

'Norfolk has always enjoyed a special relationship with the Queen because of her home in Norfolk. We celebrate her lifetime of service and wish her continued good health and happiness.'

More than 1,000 children are set to create a unique souvenir to mark the occasion. Young people from across the region will be sending personal greetings which will be published in a series of special commemorative supplements.

We'll be publishing goodwill messages in installments from Monday, April 18, as the nation counts down to a special celebration.

Your greeting could be included among them. We'd also like to include messages for Her Majesty from the workplace, pubs, clubs and community groups. Send us your thoughts on the occasion, in around 150 characters, to hmq90@archant.co.uk.

We'd also like to feature people who were born on the same day as the Queen, in 1926. So if you or a friend or relative will be celebrating their 90th on Thursday, April 21, get in touch via the e-mail address above.

Between Thursday, May 12 and Sunday, May 15, the Queen and members of the Royal Family will attend a pageant celebrating her life at Windsor Castle.

On Friday, June 10, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh will attend a national thanksgiving service at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

On Saturday, June 11, the Queen and members of the Royal Family will attend a birthday parade on Horse Guards Parade in London.

On Sunday, June 12, the Queen will attend the Patron's Lunch, a celebration of her patronage of more than 600 charities and other organisations in the UK and around the Commonwealth since 1952.