Queen Elizabeth II's 90th Birthday: U.K. Reflects on 'National Treasure'

[IceWizard]

APR 20 2016, 7:34 AM ET
by KIKO ITASAKA


LONDON —

On April 21, 1947, Princess Elizabeth marked her 21st birthday with a live radio speech in which she paid tribute to her subjects across the Commonwealth and the British Empire.

"I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service," the U.K.'s future queen said from Cape Town, South Africa. "I shall not have the strength to carry out this resolution unless you join in it with me, as I now invite you to do."


Princess Elizabeth broadcasts from the gardens of Government House in Cape Town, South Africa, on April 21, 1947. She became Queen Elizabeth II upon the death in 1952.  Getty Images


Decades later — as Queen Elizabeth II prepares to celebrate her 90th birthday on Thursday — these words still ring true for her supporters.

For millions of people, the longest-serving monarch in British history is a part of the fabric of U.K. society and a steadfast constant in their lives.

"For many of us, in our lifetime, the queen is all we have known," Katie Nichol, royal correspondent for the Mail on Sunday newspaper, told NBC News. "She's on the stamps that we lick and put on our envelopes, she's on the coins that we pay for everything with … she is an institution, she is a national treasure."

The queen will mark her birthday by meeting well-wishers outside Windsor Castle, west of London. She will later light the first of more than 1,000 beacons throughout the country in honor of the event.

"As a nation we want to thank our queen for her boundless duty," said Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of London-based Majesty magazine. "A lot of people don't get near that [age], but she is still out there doing that, looking lovely in her brightly colored clothes, shaking hands, and talking to people."


Britain's Royal Mail is issuing six new stamps to mark the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. They show the young princess with her father; attending the State Opening of Parliament in 2012; with Princess Anne and Prince Charles in 1952; visiting New Zealand in 1977; with The Duke of Edinburgh in 1957; and with Nelson Mandela in 1996.  Royal Mail / Getty Images


Journalist and royal commentator Roya Nikkhah added: "She came to the throne in her early 20s and I think in this country the public recognize and admire and appreciate the fact that she has given pretty much her entire life to service."

The Windsor event is no anomaly; despite her age the Queen carried out 306 engagements in the U.K. and 35 abroad in 2015, leaving the younger royals in her wake.

Prince Harry, Prince William and Duchess Kate managed only 198 domestic and 94 foreign engagements between them last year.

"I think it's remarkable," 84-year-old royal enthusiast Tim O'Donovan said. "How many ladies of 90 work as hard as she does?" O'Donovan, a retired banker from Windsor, has marked every royal event for the past 37 years by adding clippings of the occasion to his scrapbook.


Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George and Prince William pose during a photoshoot at Buckingham Palace last summer.  Ranald Mackechnie / Royal Mail / Getty Images


The queen was voted the most popular U.K. monarch of all time last year and most British people are in favor of the monarchy.

But not everyone agrees.

Almost a quarter of Britons said they did not think the country would still have a hereditary monarchy in 100 years' time and 9 percent said they were against the royals altogether, according to a YouGov poll last year.

Representing that viewpoint is the campaign group Republic, which wants to "see the monarchy abolished and the queen replaced with an elected, democratic head of state."

It calls the royal family "a broken institution."

"It belongs in many ways to a bygone age," she told NBC News. "There are some who would questions its relevance — what it symbolizes is privilege, elitism."


Anti-monarchy protesters gather in central London as a 1,000-boat flotilla celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012.  AP


Furthermore, there are signs that the queen may need to start to take things a bit slower following her birthday.

"I think that Buckingham Palace are very keen to say it's business as usual," Nikkhah said. "But there is no doubt that, at 90, both the queen and her aides see it as a game-changer, and there is only so much we can expect of the monarch at age 90."

British media reports suggest that some of the charities and causes championed by the queen will be handed over to younger royals. Duchess Kate will take on the queen's patronage of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, Prince Harry will look after the governing body of rugby in England, and Prince Charles is expected to travel on more of the foreign tours in her stead.

The next generation may be starting to take on more royal duties, but they acknowledge that when it comes to the royal family, the queen continues to reign.

On tour in India this past week, Prince William spoke about his grandmother. "I am incredibly lucky to have my grandmother in my life," he said. "As she turns 90, she is a remarkably energetic and dedicated guiding force for the family."

William added: "It is very important that everyone here tonight understands that I am here as the queen's representative. She may be my grandmother, but she is also very much the boss."


A new mural in central London by Frederick Wimsett marks the 90th birthday of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.  Alastair Grant / AP

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[Charon]

I cannot believe she made 90. But, lord have mercy, they last a long time in this country. I think of her mother to be exact.

What we would do without ur daily news, ice?

[G.Elias]

She's a damn snake,i despise the royal family and all of its stupid pomp and ceremony.
They live so long as they never lift a finger,they have people brush their teeth for them,they eat the best of foods and have the best healthcare all for free.they have more money and property than most of the uk put together,don't be fooled by the pomp and ceremony,they are leeches,,the ex king who abdicated was good friends with Hitlers nazis.

Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in June 2012 was not celebrated on the estate where i live,we had an anti-monarchy party,union jack flags were set on fire.

[Charon]

I have heard all that. And, i watched some shows that were not favorable to the royal family.

I, myself, don't cotton to royalty. It is often bought.

And, they were God awful to poor princess diana. She had it hard enough from her husband, Ole Big Ears.

Its a shame the friggin Queen could not even come out and say something kind about Diana after her death.

They are awfully self serving.

[G.Elias]

Half the country dont want them,the other half does,blind to all they stand for.
They stole most of what they got from when britain had an empire.

[IceCreamMan]

I hear you Tommygun, The people in USA do not understand (most) what she represents. She has a title, a prestigious one, and one that I respect. maybe it is just her... but it means more for her to come to the USA than the Prime Minister. Pictures of Reagan with the queen mean more than with pictures with Thatcher. I have mixed feelings.. I like the queen. She could be around a lot longer.. Didn't her mother live to be 102?

[G.Elias]

Not sure how long her mom lasted til,they all seem to live long lifes.I'm avoiding any coverage of all the sillyness the media is giving some ones birthday.
I bet she's still around in another 10 years.

[barq2]

I bet she's still around in another 10 years.

I'm anti-royal and think hereditary monarchy is absurd. Being head of state is really important and in the UK we do it by accident of birth! This queen has been smart enough to keep her mouth shut on most political issues. Charles is totally different. I can imagine him refusing to sign off an act of parliament because he doesn't like it. So despite being my republican beliefs (American friends - please note the small r), I'm torn between hoping she goes on another ten years rather than us have to deal with Charles... but then, I could imagine him being the one to end the monarchy by doing something ridiculous. He has been surrounded by sycophants who tell him his ideas are brilliant, so he is completely deluded about his own intelligence. *Head in hands*