She walked with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, amongst some of the 20,000 people who had lined the streets around Windsor Castle in London to wish her well.
They were both handed various presents, including, oddly enough, a grey teddy bear, a baseball cap and a union flag, which must have amused her. It is unlikely that the Queen will have had time to read all her birthday cards, which topped 20,000, or her e-mail messages posted on the official Royal site. They reached 17,000.
After her very public celebration the Queen was treated to a private, more informal dinner with 26 members of her family, including her son, the Prince of Wales. In a special message broadcast around the world the Prince paid tribute to his "darling Ma ma' He also thanked the Queen for the "many wonderful qualities she has brought to almost an entire lifetime of service and dedication." He heralded the monarch as "an example to so many of service, duty and devotion in a world of sometimes bewildering change and disorientation."
In a personal message, the Queen said: "I would like to thank the many thousands of people from this country and overseas who have sent me cards and messages on my 80th birthday.
I have been very touched by what you have written, and would like to express my gratitude to you all for making this day such a special one for me."
The day of tributes began when a huge Royal Standard – used specially for celebration days – was raised above Windsor Castle. Three hundred wellwishers in New Zealand were the first citizens of a Commonwealth country to celebrate the monarch's birthday when they spelt out "EIIR 80" on the lawn of Government House in Wellington.
By: Keva Lightbourne, The Nassau Guardian
