There's more than one way to skin a cat — or cut a cake, if Queen Elizabeth II is anything to go by.

The trio was attending a special reception with volunteers organising next year's Platinum Jubilee, which will mark the Queen's 70-year reign.

As she was handed the sword, which is typically wielded to award knighthood, it became clear that trying to manoeuvre the blade would be far from a piece of cake.

But the Queen was unperturbed by the challenge, and upon being told there was a knife available, simply responded: "I know there is."

"This is something that is more unusual," she said, drawing laughter from the assembled crowd.

Trooping the Colour marks Queen's birthday

Fresh from mixing with world leaders at the G7 summit in Cornwall, in England's south-west, the Queen retreated to Windsor Castle to view a military parade marking her 95th birthday.

The traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony is normally staged in London and features hundreds of servicemen and women and thousands of spectators.

However, for the second year running, that was not possible and it was a slimmed-down affair — though not without pomp and pageantry.

Nine planes of the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows flew past in formation and let loose their red, white and blue smoke, while soldiers donned ceremonial scarlet coats and bearskin hats.

The servicemen and women on parade numbered almost 275, with 70 horses, compared with the 85 soldiers who took part in the ceremony last summer.

A small handful of seated guests lined part of the quadrangle — a change from last year when only the military was present.

Though the Queen's actual birthday is April 26, she celebrates another one in June when the British weather is more conducive to outdoor celebrations.

It is a royal tradition that goes back to 1748 and the reign of King George II, whose actual birthday was in November.