UK celebrates Queen's 80th birthday

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sits in the Regency Room at Buckingh-am Palace in London as she looks at some of the cards which have been sent to her for her 80th birthday. PHOTO: AFP

The sprightly queen, who still travels throughout Britain and the rest of the world, accepted flowers and birthday gifts as she emerged from Windsor Castle, the ancient royal retreat west of London.

With her husband Prince Philip in tow, the queen, dressed in a fuschia pink overcoat and matching hat, chatted with excited well-wishers of all ages who were standing behind metal barricades.

The celebrations highlight how her popularity has endured despite the family divorces and scandals that shook the House of Windsor in the 1990s and raised doubts about how long the monarchy would last.

The queen has received tens of thousands of birthday cards and e-mail messages from across Britain as well as from Canada, Australia and other former colonies in the 53-nation Commonwealth.

Tributes have also poured in from Britain's politicians who have called her a pillar of strength as Britain's head of state and the head of the Commonwealth.