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Both Fidel Castro and Queen Elizabeth celebrated their 90th birthdays this year. There are some striking parallels between the two and their reigns. Here are some of the most notable.

In 1926, Castro was born in August to a wealthy sugar-farming family in Spain. Queen Elizabeth was born in April as the oldest child of the Duke of York, Albert and his wife Lady Elizabeth Bowles-Lyon.

In the 40s, Castro went to Havana University and studied law. He quickly found a passion for world politics and called the nation to never surrender. At the same time, Elizabeth boosted her nation’s morale with visits to the troops of World War II.

In the 50s, Castro joined with his brother Raul to form a revolution. Though they were defeated and sent to prison, they were pardoned two years later. This is where they happened upon Che Guevara. Two years later they launched another revolution and were able to overthrow then-president Fulgencio Batista. Elizabeth’s father passed away in the 1950s, which put her into power. An elaborate ceremony at Westminster Abby in 1952 was her coronation.

In the 1970s Castro officially became Cuba’s president and continued to support communist efforts in Ethiopia, Yemen and Angola. Queen Elizabeth celebrated 25 years at her throne and also welcomed Margaret Thatcher as the first female as Prime Minister.

In the 1980s, Cuba experienced deep economic hardships and thousands of residents sought refuge outside of the country. Castro opened the ports and allowed people to seek asylum. Queen Elizabeth made history that decade by visiting The Great Wall of China. No other British monarch ever traveled to mainland China.

In 2000s, Castro suffered ill health and it forced him to step down from his power. Raul Castro, his brother, assumed his position of power. Queen Elizabeth’s son Charles remarried Camilla Parker-Bowles. The Queen was not present at the civil ceremony. In the 2010s, Castro and Queen Elizabeth celebrated their 90th birthdays, with low-key festivities and with elaborate parades, respectively.