Queen Elizabeth II's husband to mark 90th birthday

[April 13, 2011]  LONDON (AP) -- Add another celebration to the British royal family's packed calendar: the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II's husband.

Buckingham Palace said Tuesday that the family will mark Prince Philip's milestone with a service at Windsor Castle's chapel and reception on June 12, two days after his actual birthday.

The occasion comes at a busy time for the 84-year-old queen. In the coming months, she will celebrate the April 29 wedding of grandson Prince William to Kate Middleton and the July wedding of granddaughter Zara Phillips.

The palace said it had created a dedicated website, where well-wishers can peruse photos and leave a birthday message for Philip, who in 2009 became the longest serving consort in British history when he outlived Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III.

In honor of his 90 years, the palace created a list of 90 facts about Philip. Website visitors might be surprised to learn that in addition to the Duke's penchant for collecting items like penknives, the queen's husband also enjoys painting landscapes in oils.

The list shows that he also had an affinity for technology, evidenced by his early adoption of a prototype cellphone in the 1950s and his current use of a laptop.

On his actual birthday on June 10, Philip will perform a round of official duties at Buckingham Palace -- standard practice for the Duke, who the palace estimates has made about 5,000 speeches and lectures over the course of his public life.

[Associated Press]

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