RESIDENTS across Hampshire will be digging out the bunting, putting on their Sunday best and raising the Union Flag today for a right royal celebration.

To mark the 90th birthday of Britain's longest serving monarch as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II turns 90 today, people in all corners of of the county will be marking the milestone in style.

Tea parties are being planned, beacons will be lit as part of a host of events to mark the special day.

There will be dressing up, street parties and celebratory lunches at schools across the county including at Locks Heath Infant School, Lymington Infants School, Whickham CE Primary School and Meonstoke CE Infants School whilst maypole dancing and tea parties are being held at Hiltingbury Infant school in Chandler's Ford. Nightingale school in Eastleigh were already in the spirit by digging out the Union Flags in preparation for the big day.

Tea parties will be held at Makins Court sheltered accommodation in Winchester, Netley Court care home in Netley Abbey while Romsey Town Crier Terry Hamer will be giving a special birthday proclamation in the town centre at 3pm.

And beacons will light up the skies with family celebrations at the University of Winchester's West Downs Campus, Portchester Castle, Priory Park in Bishop's Waltham and Grove Gardens in Hythe.

In Hatch Grange in West End the beacon will be lit by 17-year-old electrical apprentice James Chase who was chosen to do the honours in recognition of the hours of his voluntary work for West End Youth Club.

The Hampshire beacons join more than 1,000 across the UK which will be lit for her Royal Highness.

Meanwhile the Mayor of Southampton Cllr Linda Norris will join more than 500 leather-clad motorbike enthusiasts who will fill Bargate to mark the occasion from 6pm.

The Mayor will blow a whistle at 7.30pm signalling a roaring salute to the Queen as the bikers rev their engines for 10 seconds.

The bikers meet at the monument every Thursday night for Southampton Bike Night.

Mark Holman of Fat Arrow Events, which has organised tonight's celebration, said: "We're proud to have been given the opportunity to do this. All the bikers are proud of their nation.

"Part of the aim of the bike night was to improve the perception of bikers. There's a massive cross section of people. We're just normal people who like motorbikes.

"It's brought a bit of life back into the area after the Bargate Shopping Centre closed. There are some fantastic restaurants and cafes there who are doing well out of the bike night and we're glad to be supporting them."

Residents may even get a glimpse of Prince Charles as an impersonator greets diners who are celebrating the day with a three-course roast beef meal at the Grand Cafe in South Western House in Southampton.

But this is not the end of the celebrations as more events will run until the Queen's official birthday in June.

This weekend Fort Nelson and the Royal Armouries in Fareham will hold a regal event and celebratory gun firing by the uniformed detachment Ubique on Saturday and Sunday.

And thousands more residents and schoolchildren will be attending street parties during May and June.