Queen for her day
Published 9:00 pm Friday, April 21, 2006
WINDSOR, England – Her gifts included a 21-gun salute, a Union Jack baseball cap, a tea set and a birthday tribute Friday from Prince Charles to his “darling mama,” 80-year-old Queen Elizabeth II.
“My sentiments today are those of a proud and loving son, who hopes that you will join with me in wishing the queen the happiest of happy birthdays, together with the fervent prayer that there will be countless memorable returns of the day,” Charles said in a greeting aired on major British broadcasters.
“It gives me enormous pride to be able to congratulate her publicly in this way, and to thank her on behalf of us all for the many wonderful qualities which she has brought to almost an entire lifetime of service and dedication to her country.”
The prince, the heir to his mother’s throne, hosted a dinner Friday night for the queen at Kew Palace in suburban London. The guest list was small and exclusive – two dozen very close family members.
Before the meal, the birthday girl stood in front of the steps of Kew Palace, flanked by Charles and Prince Philip, her husband of 58 years, with the others behind, watching a fireworks display overhead, which was accompanied by music from across the queen’s past eight decades. Among the tunes: “Jailhouse Rock” from Elvis, Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” and even the rock group Queen performing “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
Earlier Friday, the queen met well-wishers outside her Windsor Castle home, where an enormous Royal Standard flag flew to mark the day. Thousands of people began gathering outside the ancient castle, founded by William the Conqueror, hours before the queen emerged from the castle gate clad in a cerise suit and matching hat – and with her ever-present handbag.
Royal walkabouts are often quick affairs, but the queen – accompanied by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, – spent more than 45 minutes on the streets of the quaint town. She saw uniformed schoolchildren, people with balloons in the shape of corgi dogs – one of her favorite animals – and even, strangely, one woman dressed as a fox.
Colin Edwards drove 10 hours from Wales to Windsor to grab a spot outside the castle’s Henry VIII gate. An avid royal watcher who said he has met the queen 113 times since 1982, he wore a paper crown and gave the monarch a poem he had written for the occasion.
“I love this. It’s my way of showing my admiration and love for her,” Edwards said.
