IT IS Queen Elizabeth's 95th birthday today and to mark this momentous occasion we have taken a look back at some of her special visits to Sussex. 

Today marks the Queen's 95th birthday and the first without her beloved Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, by her side. 

Members of the monarchy have been supporting the Queen throughout the mourning period for Philip, and some of her family are expected to be with her at Windsor Castle.

READ MORE: Tributes to Prince Philip following his death
READ MORE: Prince Philip funeral: 'Proud' Sussex soldier carries coffin

As our longest reigning monarch the Queen has been on the throne for 69 years, two months and 13 days. 

In that time she has seen some of the biggest advancements in history from space travel to the internet and even the first heart transplant. 

One thing is for certain, the Queen has been one of the most active royals our country has ever seen and she's certainly made her impression on Sussex.

With countless visits to our wonderful county, the Queen first visited in 1953 after her coronation and most recently visited in 2013 as part of a whilst-stop tour. 

Here's a look back at some of the most special visits from our Queen: 

1962

The Argus:

The Queen's visit to Brighton College in 1962

Following the Queen's coronation tour which saw her make a big impression on the town she has returned many times to open a series of institutions. 

Her Majesty opened the King Edward VII Sanatorium at Midhurst in 1956, where one patient declared: “She is lovely. She beats any film star.”

She also visited Brighton College in 1962 (pictured above) and opened a library at the University of Sussex in 1964 as well as the Isaac Newton telescope at the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux in 1967.

May 31, 1979

The Argus:

The Queen was presented with a model yacht after opening Brighton Marina in 1979.

Brighton was blessed with another visit from the Queen on May 31, 1979. 

The royal couple, the Queen and Prince Philip, visited the city for the first time in 17 years and had a look around our historic shopping streets. 

One onlooker was disappointed after she'd forgotten to put film in her camera following a face-to-face photo opportunity with the Queen. 

Later that day the Queen officially opened Brighton Marina and was presented with a model yacht (pictured). She also visited Lewes.

June 2002

The Argus:

The Queen at the South of England Show in 2002.

Once again joined by her loyal husband, the Queen visited the South of England Show in June 2002 - arriving in a horse-drawn carriage. 

The visit came as part of her Golden Jubilee tour of the UK and the Queen was greeted by cheers from an enthusiastic crowd. 

The royals did not allow the rainy weather to deter them from a tour of the showground, including a face-to-face with a prize-winning bull (pictured).

While Sussex was on the Queen’s agenda for her Golden Jubilee, she did not return to the county for her Diamond Jubilee.

October 31, 2013

The Argus:

The Queen's visit to The Keep in Falmer (2013 - Argus).

On October 31, 2013, well-wishers turned out in their thousands to greet the Queen for a whistle-stop tour of Sussex.

The Queen was joined by Prince Philip for the tour which saw the couple arrive by helicopter in Newhaven where they visited the town's West Quay Fisheries. 

READ MORE: Queen in Sussex in videos

They also visited the Youth Hostel Association South Downs in Southease before stopping for lunch at Harveys Brewery in Lewes.

During the quick brewery tour she helped start the brewing process on a batch of Elizabethan Ale, first created in 1953 to celebrate her Coronation.

The trip was finished in Brighton where the Queen opened the county records office, The Keep in Falmer.