LONDON, April 21, 2008
Queen Elizabeth II Marks 82nd Birthday
British Monarch Gets 41-Gun Salute At Hyde Park In London
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Play CBS Video Video Prince William Chopper Flap Royal drama was stirred up for Queen Elizabeth's 82nd birthday after Prince William landed a Royal Air Force chopper in his girlfriend's back yard. Charlie D'Agata reports.
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Members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery fire a 41-gun salute to mark Britain's Queen Elizabeth II's 82nd birthday, at Hyde Park in London, Monday, April 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
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Photos Queen Visits The Colonies Images from Queen Elizabeth II's six-day tour of the United States.
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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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- MABUHAY!! GOD BLESS THE QUEEN, BRITAIN WILL NEVER BE GREAT! IF THEIR IS NO QUEEN ELIZABETH 2!! HAPPY B-DAY, WE LOVE YOU IN THE PHILIPPINES UR RATING IS GREATER THAT ANY OTHER PRESIDENT OR PRIMEMINISTER!!! GOD BLESS YOU!!!!
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