Air India featured in Queen's birthday album

London, Apr 22: India's national carrier Air India has featured in an official commemorative album launched to mark Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday celebrations.

The album, released this week by publisher St James's House, will be distributed during royal events planned between May 12 and 15 at Home Park in Windsor Castle.

The events over four nights will celebrate the monarch's life, her dedication to the Commonwealth and international affairs, her involvement with the armed forces and her love of horses. "Our commemorative album will be presented as a gift to VVIP and VIP guests at each of the four evenings," said Richard Freed, chief executive of St James's House.

"Copies of the book will also be distributed to key figures and organisations around the world including heads of state, ambassadors and leaders of industry. We were tasked with finding suitable editorial partners for the book, and we were delighted when Air India UK agreed to help us mark this important milestone," Freed said.

In addition to celebrating the life and reign of the Queen, the publication showcases a selection of organisations in the UK and Commonwealth with strong ties to Britain. In the area of air transportation, Air India is one of the organisations selected to appear in the publication.

"Air India UK was approached by St James's House via the Confederation of Indian Industry who were invited to appear in the event's official commemorative album and showcase their members," said Tara Naidu, Air India's Regional Manager UK & Europe.

"We were invited based on our good editorial fit for the project, and it's a great honour to be part of this historic celebration," she said.

Air India has a historical relationship with the UK, with the first flight to London being operated by a four-engine Constellation aircraft on June 8, 1948 via Cairo and Geneva. It currently operates five daily direct flights to India from London/Birmingham.

On each evening of the Queen's birthday celebration, 900 horses and more than 1,500 people from around the world will participate in a 90-minute show to celebrate her life. This show will take the audience from the Queen's birth, through World War II, her marriage, her coronation and a reign of more than 60 years, and will incorporate actors, bands and dancers to tell the story.

The final performance will be broadcast live on British TV and will feature well-known hosts, narrators and singers from the British entertainment world. Over the course of the events in Windsor, more than 25,000 VIP guests and spectators are expected to attend the event, with the commemorative album as a lasting souvenir.

PTI