Britain's Queen Elizabeth II turns 81

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II turns 81

For her 80th birthday, the monarch had been greeted by large crowds in Windsor, a national service of thanksgiving was held and her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, hosted a lavish dinner at Kew Palace, attended by all the senior royals.

The sovereign shows few signs of wanting to slow down. Though her hectic schedule has been scaled back, she still approaches her duties with her customary enthusiasm.

Commentators say she is conscious of her vow to serve as queen for life and would never consider relinquishing her role.

Along with her husband Prince Philip, the queen is set to pay a two-day visit to Virginia on May 3 and 4 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Settlement. The visit to the United States, which will run to May 8, will be her first in 16 years.

The queen, as head of the Commonwealth, will also attend the bi-annual Commonwealth heads of government meeting in the Ugandan capital Kampala in November. Charles, 58, will also attend for the first time.

On the queen's birthday, the Union Flag is flown on all government buildings from 8:00 am (0700 GMT) until sunset and royal gun salutes are fired in her honor.

The monarch also has, by tradition, a second official birthday on a Saturday in June, when the normally more clement weather is better suited to outdoor parades.

Arthur Edwards, The Sun newspaper's royal photographer, has pictured Queen Elizabeth for the past three decades.

"She looks marvelous for a woman of 81 and has an amazing complexion -- the skin of a lady half her age," the lensman said Saturday.

"And her clothes are always immaculate. I have never seen a stitch out of place.

"The queen usually spends her birthday in the same way as millions of other mothers in Britain do, with her family.

"But one thing is for certain, she won't think turning 81 is a big deal. She will most likely go for a ride along the river and take her dogs out.

"I am told the queen is happiest when she is with her horses and dogs, because they don't know she's the queen."

The Sun was encouraging readers to leave a message on its Internet site, to be compiled into a giant birthday card to be presented on her official birthday, which this year falls on June 16.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth in its editorial Saturday, saying her visits were a reminder of her value.

"These events bring home to us the great experience of the queen, and the tradition within which she acts," the broadsheet said.

"How different her steadiness and devotion to duty are from the party tactics of fly-by-night politicians. The British do not wear their hearts on their sleeves, but know how to reciprocate quietly loyal service. Today they can feel, if they do not sing, God save the Queen."