February 11, 2009 3:04 PM
- Text
Queen Elizabeth II Marks 82nd Birthday
(CBS/AP)
Queen Elizabeth II marked her 82nd birthday at home in Windsor Castle.
The occasion has been celebrated with a 41-gun salute at Hyde Park in London on Monday.
On Dec. 20, the British queen became the oldest person ever to reign in Britain, beating the record set by Queen Victoria.
She is one of only five kings or queens since the 1066 Norman Conquest to reign for more than half a century.
Far away from the fanfare, it's believed her Majesty's planning to enjoy a quiet dinner at Windsor Castle, reports CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata.
But there is another family drama - this time, Prince William's taking flak for landing an Air Force helicopter in girlfriend Kate Middleton's backyard, D'Agata reports. He also piloted the chopper to give his brother Prince Harry a lift to a bachelor party on the very night William earned his wings.
The British military says both flights were approved, but critics are calling it a waste.
"The money spent on that sortie might perhaps be better spent on training a guy who's actually going to fly a Chinook," said Jon Lake, defense editor of Flight Daily News.
The current commander in chief may be getting a little weary of family woes. But at 82, the Queen shows no sign of slowing down, let alone stepping down.
"I don't think the queen will hand over for a very long time," says Katie Nicholl of the Daily Mail. "I think she's in fantastic health, she absolutely loves what she does, and what she does is her life, and she's absolutely fantastic, and the day she leaves her job, Britain will be a very different place."
D'Agata reports that Monday is the queen's "real" birthday, which she always celebrates in private, though her official birthday is celebrated in June.
The occasion has been celebrated with a 41-gun salute at Hyde Park in London on Monday.
On Dec. 20, the British queen became the oldest person ever to reign in Britain, beating the record set by Queen Victoria.
She is one of only five kings or queens since the 1066 Norman Conquest to reign for more than half a century.
Far away from the fanfare, it's believed her Majesty's planning to enjoy a quiet dinner at Windsor Castle, reports CBS News correspondent Charlie D'Agata.
But there is another family drama - this time, Prince William's taking flak for landing an Air Force helicopter in girlfriend Kate Middleton's backyard, D'Agata reports. He also piloted the chopper to give his brother Prince Harry a lift to a bachelor party on the very night William earned his wings.
The British military says both flights were approved, but critics are calling it a waste.
"The money spent on that sortie might perhaps be better spent on training a guy who's actually going to fly a Chinook," said Jon Lake, defense editor of Flight Daily News.
The current commander in chief may be getting a little weary of family woes. But at 82, the Queen shows no sign of slowing down, let alone stepping down.
"I don't think the queen will hand over for a very long time," says Katie Nicholl of the Daily Mail. "I think she's in fantastic health, she absolutely loves what she does, and what she does is her life, and she's absolutely fantastic, and the day she leaves her job, Britain will be a very different place."
D'Agata reports that Monday is the queen's "real" birthday, which she always celebrates in private, though her official birthday is celebrated in June.
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