Queen Elizabeth 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.
In a rare move unseen recent years, she then drove through Windsor in an open-topped car with Prince Philip, her husband of 68 years, by her side.
Later the Queen lit a beacon, the first of about 1,000 across Britain and worldwide to mark the occasion.
“I send my best wishes to those who are celebrating their 90th birthday … on this shared occasion, I send my warm congratulations to you,” said a post on the queen’s Twitter account.
A poll last week found 70 per cent wanted her to stay queen compared to 21 per cent who thought she should abdicate or retire.
BBC News magazine listed on Wednesday several different reasons for why Elizabeth has been able to live such a long and productive life, noting that her Christian faith and charitable works have played a key role.
“It could be that religious faith, especially in the West, comes with a community and support network. On the other hand faith may make you feel more positive about life and death. Studies have found that optimists live longer than pessimists,” said professor Sarah Harper, from the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing.
In her forward to The Servant Queen and the King She Serves, the book marking her 90th birthday, Elizabeth wrote: “I have been — and remain — very grateful to you for your prayers and to God for his steadfast love.”
She added: “I have indeed seen His faithfulness.”
Mark Greene, executive director of the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, who co-authored the book, added at the time: “The Queen has served us all her adult life, with amazing consistency of character, concern for others and a clear dependence on Christ. The more I’ve read what she’s written and talked to people who know her, the clearer that is.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqav-kEN1IU
