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29 March 2024

Queen at 90: Poses with grandchildren, great-grandchildren

Britain's Queen Elizabeth arrives at the Queen Elizabeth II delivery office in Windsor, England, on Wednesday April 20, 2016. The Queen is carrying out engagements in Windsor ahead of her 90th Birthday on Thursday. (AP)

Published
By AFP

Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday on Thursday, with her eldest son Prince Charles paying tribute in a special radio broadcast and Prime Minister David Cameron leading a parliamentary homage.

The sovereign, who last year overtook her great-great grandmother queen Victoria to become Britain's longest-reigning monarch, is to mark the day in Windsor Castle with official engagements and a dinner with the royal family.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, officially opens the new Bandstand at Alexandra Gardens, a day ahead of her 90th birthday, in Windsor, England, Wednesday, April 20, 2016. AP

The excitement was visible in the small town of Windsor, west of London, with special bunting put up in the streets and local shops selling souvenir tea and cakes as well-wishers gathered to celebrate an historic day.

"We are very proud of her. Everybody in the town is very excited. They pulled out all the stops," Carolyn Chisnall, a local resident, told AFP.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II , right, talks to a member of the Royal Guard as she officially opens the new Bandstand at Alexandra Gardens. AP

As military gun salutes are fired in London, Queen Elizabeth will unveil a plaque in Windsor for a new local walking tour in her honour and set fire to the first of hundreds of beacons being lit up around the kingdom.

"Her Majesty the Queen has lived through some extraordinary times in our world," Cameron will tell parliament at the start of an hours-long debate, according to extracts released by his Downing Street office.

"Throughout it all, as the sands of culture shift and the tides of politics ebb and flow, Her Majesty has been steadfast - a rock of strength for our nation."

In this official photograph released by Buckingham Palace Wednesday April 20, 2016  to mark her 90th birthday, Queen Elizabeth II is seen walking in the private grounds of Windsor Castle, in England, on steps at the rear of the East Terrace and East Garden with four of her dogs: clockwise from top left Willow (corgi), Vulcan (dorgie), Candy (dorgie) and Holly (corgi). AP

Buckingham Palace released three official pictures of the monarch taken by US celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.

They were shot in Windsor Castle, where she will host US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on Friday.

In this official photograph released by Buckingham Palace on Wednesday April 20, 2016 to mark her 90th birthday, Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with her daughter, The Princess Royal, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in England. AP

Queen Elizabeth is pictured with four of her beloved dogs - Willow, Candy, Vulcan and Holly - outside the mediaeval castle in one photograph, and with her only daughter Princess Anne in another.

This official photograph, released by Buckingham Palace on Wednesday April 20, 2016,  to mark her 90th birthday, shows Queen Elizabeth II with her five great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren in the Green Drawing Room, part of Windsor Castle's semi-State apartments in Windsor England. The children are: James, Viscount Severn, 8-years-old, left, and Lady Louise, 12-years-old, second left, the children of The Earl and Countess of Wessex;  Mia Tindall, holding The Queen's handbag, the two year-old-daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall; Savannah  5-years-old, third right, and Isla Phillips, 3-years-old, right, daughters of The Queen's eldest grandson Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn; Prince George, 2-years-old, second right, and in The Queen's arms and in the tradition of Royal portraiture, the youngest great-grandchild, Princess Charlotte, 11-months-old,  children of Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge. AP

In the third she is surrounded by some of the youngest members of her family, including her two-year-old great-granddaughter Mia Tindall, who is shown clutching one of the queen's trademark handbags.

Ahead of the Queen's 90th birthday, the Royal Mail has released another historic image.

In this image released by the Royal Mail on Wednesday April 20, 2016, Britain's Prince George stands on foam blocks during a photo shoot for the Royal Mail in the summer of 2015 in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in London for a stamp sheet to mark the 90th birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.  The image features four generations of the Royal family, from left, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. AP

Perched proudly on a pile of foam blocks, but holding Daddy's hand just in case, Prince George poses for his very first postage stamp alongside his father, his grandfather – and the great-grandmother.

It is the scene on a new sheet of four commemorative First Class stamps.

It's a happy portrait of four generations of one family, from the doted-on little boy (loving called cheeky rascal by the Queen) to his beloved 'Gan-Gan'.

AP

'Proud to be British'

Crowds of supporters gathered in Windsor on Wednesday to wish the Queen an early happy birthday.

Well-wishers waving British flags greeted the monarch, dressed in pink, and her 94-year-old husband Prince Philip, as they visited a Royal Mail delivery office where two staff choirs joined to give a rendition of "Happy Birthday".

Terry Hutt, a royal fan stands in front of the castle in Windsor, England, Wednesday, April 20, 2016. AP

The royal family's popularity plunged after the death of Diana, Charles' first wife, in a car crash in 1997, which came soon after three of the Queen's four children got divorced and Windsor Castle was partially gutted by fire.

But overall Queen Elizabeth has shown an ability to unite her subjects through tumultuous times -- from the grim post-World War II years through the decline of the British empire to troubles that have rocked the monarchy.

Terry Hutt, a royal fan shows a card he has made, in Windsor, England, Wednesday, April 20, 2016. AP

Support for the monarchy remains high at 76 percent, according to an Ipsos-Mori poll for King's College London.

"I'm so proud to be British," said Carole Earl, who lives near Windsor and pointed to a recent opinion poll showing the queen is "more popular than ever".

A royal fan adjusts her Union flag glasses, in Windsor, England, Wednesday, April 20, 2016. AP

The country is celebrating on Thursday and will do so again in May with a series of performances and concerts in Windsor Castle, and on the queen's official birthday in June when a street party is planned along The Mall, the processional route leading to Buckingham Palace.

'She is eternal'

John Loughrey - a royal 'superfan' - said he had been sleeping on a bench outside Windsor Castle since Monday to be there for the big day.

A shop window is decorated to celebrate the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, in Windsor, England, Wednesday, April 20, 2016. AP

"She is a unique monarch," said Loughrey, who was dressed in the red, white and blue colours of the British flag.

"She hasn't put a foot wrong... She modernises every 10 years to the standards people expect from her and she does that tremendously," he said, before launching into a rendition of the national anthem.

Kathy Bibby, who had come down from Manchester in northwest England, praised Queen Elizabeth's vitality.

Workmen install a new mural by Frederick Wimsett, of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to mark her 90th birthday celebrations, in central London, Tuesday, April, 19, 2016. AP

"She carries out all her duties and never seems to complain," she said.

Pauline, another Windsor resident, said: "She is a very impressive lady, an icon really."

"I don't think she'll ever stop. She made a vow to serve her country until she will die."