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 The service at London's St Paul's Cathedral, attended by a
host of dignitaries including other members of the royal family
and Prime Minister David Cameron, was a double celebration for
the queen with Prince Philip, her husband of 68 years, marking
his 95th birthday on Friday.
In a ceremony laden with the pageantry that accompanies
significant royal events, the monarch was greeted at St Paul's
by a trumpet fanfare while the entrance to the cathedral was
flanked by her Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard, veteran
soldiers dressed in scarlet uniforms.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader
of the Anglican Communion, said the country looked back at her
decades of service to the nation, through war, hardship, turmoil
and change, with deep wonder and gratitude.
"Your Majesty, today we rejoice for the way in which God's
loving care has fearfully and wonderfully sustained you, as well
as Prince Philip marking his 95th birthday today," Welby said in
his sermon.
"And we rejoice Your Majesty for the way in which the life God
has given you, in turn you have given wonderfully in service to
this nation. You have been an instrument of God's peace."
The queen, who has been on the throne for 64 years, turned 90 in
April but in keeping with a tradition dating back to 1748, she
also has an official birthday, usually in June, to ensure
celebrations take place when the weather is likely to be better.
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To mark the occasion, the sixth and final portrait in a series of
official birthday pictures taken by U.S. photographer Annie
Leibovitz was released, showing the monarch with her husband at her
Windsor Castle home, west of London.
On Saturday, Elizabeth will attend the traditional Trooping the
Colour parade of soldiers in ceremonial uniforms in central London
followed by a fly-past of Royal Air Force aircraft over Buckingham
Palace.
To conclude celebrations, the queen hosts "The Patrons Lunch" for
10,000 guests at the largest street party ever to be held on the
Mall, the grand avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace, an event
organized by her grandson, Peter Phillips.
The guests will come from some of the more than 600 charities and
other organizations of which she is patron with the festivities
beamed to large screens in the capital's parks.
The government has said millions of Britons are expected to join the
occasion at local street parties across the country.
(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Stephen Addison)
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