AS Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 90th birthday today – Dudley Zoological Gardens is marking another milestone birthday.

The Zoo’s own regal resident – lioness Kyra – turns ten today.

And to mark the occasion, big cat keepers have treated the Asiatic lion to some patriotic enrichment - a hessian sack full of used animal bedding and catnip, sporting the red, white and blue of the union flag.

Zoo spokesman Rachel Hickman said: “We’re proud to be marking this historic event in DZG's own unique way.

“We hope the Queen has a very happy day – Kyra was certainly very taken with her birthday present, which she soon dragged to the other side of the one-acre paddock before Asha and Jetpur spotted it.”

The Queen’s birthday celebrations will continue tonight when an official beacon is lit at the top of Dudley Castle as part of a chain of light across the country.