The Queen greeted thousands of well-wishers from across Britain and beyond as she celebrated her 90th birthday, demonstrating the world's oldest monarch's intent to keep doing the job she has performed for more than six decades.
Usually her birthday passes with little ceremony but to mark Thursday's milestone a beaming Elizabeth, wearing in a light green outfit, mingled with crowds during a lengthy walkabout near her Windsor Castle home, west of London.
In a rare move in recent years, she then drove through Windsor in an open-topped car with Prince Philip, her husband of 68 years by her side.
The Queen lights the principal birthday beacon #Queenat90 pic.twitter.com/HGnWZuGygZ
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) April 21, 2016
"All of us are here to respect the Queen and to show her our affection and how much we appreciate all her years of service and to wish her a happy birthday," said Donna Werner who had travelled to Windsor from Connecticut in the United States.
Werner, like many others in the crowd festooned with red, white and blue, had been camped out since before dawn along with three English friends she met during the 2011 wedding of the Queen's grandson, Prince William and his wife Catherine.
The Queen would light a beacon, the first of about 1000 across Britain and worldwide to mark the occasion. There were also artillery gun salutes in London and other British cities, while the Houses of Parliament were to be illuminated later in red, white and blue.
Born on April 21, 1926, the Queen shows no signs of retiring, let alone abdicating. A post on her Twitter site thanked well-wishers:
Thank you for the lovely warm wishes on The Queen's 90th birthday #Queenat90 pic.twitter.com/jxZf7My9iZ
— BritishMonarchy (@BritishMonarchy) April 21, 2016
Close aides say Elizabeth, who has been on the throne for 64 years and is by far the oldest monarch in British history, was far more interested in events to mark her 90th birthday than she had been about overtaking her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria last September as Britain's longest-reigning sovereign.
'HUMBLE ADDRESS'
"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, for our Commonwealth, and on so many occasions, for the whole world," Prime Minister David Cameron said in a "humble address" in parliament.
Jeremy Corbyn, the ardent republican leader of the opposition Labour Party, paid tribute to her "outstanding commitment to public life".
"Whatever differing views people across this country have about the institution, the vast majority share an opinion that Her Majesty has served this country ... with a clear sense of public service and public duty," he said.
Some, though, were less overawed by the occasion.
"Headline polling figures mask what's really happening," said Graham Smith, chief executive of campaign group Republic. "With the republican movement stronger than ever - and growing - and with the succession looming on the horizon, the monarchy is in a more perilous position than pundits will tell you this week."
Monarchy boon for economy
The value of the British monarchy stands at about £58.4 billion ($NZ121 billion), according to a report released on Thursday.
Consultancy Brand Finance estimated the figure by adding £21 billion of tangible assets like the Royal Collection treasure trove, private estates and the Crown Estate to £37.4 billion of intangible assets, namely the monarchy's long term contribution to the economy.
It said the royal family contributed more than £1 billion to the British economy, adding value to areas such as tourism and business.
"It's like a giant PR campaign for the UK," Brand Finance chief executive David Haigh told Reuters.
Brand Finance calculated the contributions by netting off security, palace maintenance and the Sovereign Grant - the Queen's public income - against income sources including "uplift to tourism, the price premium commanded by brands with royal warrants and the surplus generated by the Crown Estate".
Estimates of the British monarchy's wealth are complicated as some assets are privately owned and others like the Crown Estate are owned by the Queen on behalf of the nation.
Anti-royalists have provided their own figures and dispute claims the royal family boosts tourism. Last year, campaign group Republic published a report saying "each 'working royal' costs the taxpayer an average of £18.5 million, making them the most expensive public officials in the country".
