The Queen's 90th Birthday

Good morning and welcome to Windsor, where we join thousands of people

gathered in the streets around the castle, in the hope of catching a

glimpse of Her Majesty the Queen, on this, her special day, our 90th

birthday. Welcome to Windsor Castle, as we begin the celebrations - and

there will be lots of them. A 90th birthday is a wonderful achievement,

but when the person celebrating also happens to be the longest serving

British monarch, it is surely a day worth witnessing. So we are here to

join in with the celebrations. 90 years ago today, a baby princess was

born in London town house, about 20 miles away from where we sit, and in

truth, nobody could have imagined how the events of history would

unfold, changing the course of our monarchy and the life of one little

princess. We are familiar with it now, of course. But it remains the

story of how a young girl would go on to become one of the most famous,

even perhaps revered, women in the world. Her Majesty the Queen has two

birthdays. Today is the anniversary of the day that she was born. In

June, we will be back for her official birthday, with Trooping the

Colour, and this year, a special picnic in the Mall. And not wanting

to miss out, we are ready to have a party of our own today as well. We

will be welcoming many of the Queen'sfavourites from the world of

stage and screen, including our friend who you may have spotted

grazing outside the studio this morning! In just under Digg

according time, at about midday day, we expect that the Queen will step

out of Windsor Castle, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, and we are

pretty sure that we will have a cheer to be heard in every corner of

Berkshire. That will be followed by the band of the Coldstream Guards.

Sonali is already in a prime spot among the crowds this morning. She

will tell us what is in store for these thousands of people who are

here today. Yes, welcome Castle Hill. Thousands of well-wishers have

gathered here, people of all ages. All wanting to which the Queen a

very happy birthday on her 90th. We have got a mix of locals, royal fans

from across the UK, and across the Commonwealth. And we are expecting

the Queen at noon to come out in a car with the Duke of Edinburgh and

to start her walkabout from here. Everybody will be hoping that Her

Majesty will stop and talk to them. The Queen will then make her way

down Castle Hill and along to where there is another party taking place.

Chris Hollins can tell us more. Yes, a to potty. Her Majesty will be

making her way along here to the Guildhall. -- a tea party. There

will be dignitaries from the Royal Borough Of Windsor And Maidenhead,

and also a group of people here who are not only local residents, but

also people who are also about to celebrate their 90th birthday this

year. And we have the champion from Great British Bake Off, who will be

unveiling the Queen's birthday cake later on. The well-wishers are not

gathering just in Windsor. We have caught up with a few special guests

who also wanted to send their birthday greetings. Your Majesty,

congratulations on 90 glorious years. Your achievements are

immense. Over 64 years as our Queen. 12 prime ministers have served under

you. You have been a constant in our lives through the good and bad

times. You are at the very heart of our nation, and we would not have it

any other way. A very, very happy birthday, ma'am. I hope that you

manage to blow out all your candles in one go. I also hope that during

the day you have the chance to put your feet up. And remember, you are

welcome back at the Queen victory time you like. Happy birthday! Your

Majesty - it is my honour to have the privilege of being able, on

behalf of our nation, to wish you, ma'am, the happiest of birthdays -

and many more! May it please your Majesty, we are your most loyal and

devoted subjects. Serving in your Majesty's Royal Navy and Royal

Marines. Our dutiful and heartfelt welcome as we mark your 90th

birthday. It is going to be a happy birthday in deed. We have welcomed

into our little bandstand here some special guests now. Thank you all

for coming. It is a special day, Gyles Brandreth. It is clear that

there is huge interest. Why is it important? It is a privilege to be

here today. These people have turned up because this is living history.

Windsor Castle is the perfect place for it. This castle was founded by

William the Conqueror more than 1000 years ago. The way it looks now,

castellated, that was done during the time of George III and George

IV, turning it into this fairy tale castle. It is a mixture of heritage

and fairy tale. People have come because they know they are taking

part in a pageant which has continued for more than 1000 years.

And it will go on. The royal stamps issued for the Queen's Birthday

feature her three successors, God willing. And during the war, the

Queen lived here during the war, and that is why it is a special to her.

But her nanny said it was a Games, not a home. The Queen begs to differ

- her, it is a Games fortress and home. When the Queen became engaged

to the Duke of Edinburgh he came to stay here. He was being shown

around, he was Prince Edward of Greece at the time. He was being

shown around and he said, please, I do know, my mother was born here!

Clearly you are a fount of all knowledge! Dame Joan Collins,

welcome. You are looking splendid, as undoubtedly will be the Queen

herself as well. What is it particularly which calls you to

Windsor to celebrate this day? I am a huge admirer of the Queen. I have

been since I was a young girl, since she got married to Prince Philip. I

have a huge scrap of everything. I cut out everything from the

newspapers and magazines. The dress, her tiara, everything about it. I

was completely fascinated by her, and everybody at school had a crush

on him, Prince Philip, because he was like a Greek God. To say that

she is the longest lasting monitor that we have Etihad, but I think any

other country has ever had as well. And I

other country has ever had as well. countries are really quite jealous

of the fact that we have such a marvellous Queen. I think it is

fantastic that she has become 90, and I would like to say that 90 is

the new 70! You heard it here first! Sebastian Coe, there have been many

interesting, magnificent and significant moments throughout the

interesting, magnificent and Queen is 90 years, but you, as

interesting, magnificent and somebody who headed up the bid for

2012, were the more recent and extraordinary

ones - Good evening, Mr Bond. Good evening,

your Majesty. It doesn't matter how many times you

see that, you still think, crikey, it is the Queen! Just explain to us

see that, you still think, crikey, how it came about? You're absolutely

right. The whole stadium and everybody at home just thought,

well, it is an impersonator! And then everybody just went, oh, my

god! Particularly when she came down in the parachute!

god! Particularly when she came down question about that. You did feel

the globe slightly wobbling, the question about that. You did feel

he walked in and said, the two question about that. You did feel

this order, are Her Majesty the Queen and James Bond. I sort of

accepted that proposition. And he said - and we're going to get them

to jump out of a helicopter together. You did feel the globe

slightly wobbling at that point! But the funniest moment, which people do

not always realise, is that actually only the Princess Royal, within the

household, actually knew what was about to happen. I sat in front of

Prince William and Prince Harry during the ceremony, and as she

jumped from the helicopter, Harry screamed out, go, granny! That is

something, there is an element today, of course it is a moment of

importance for Britain, but actually, for somebody to reach 90

is a moment when surely they should be celebrating? And

is a moment when surely they should family around them. This evening,

Prince Charles is hosting a party here in the castle for the entire

extended Royal Family. There will be entertainment. People often think

how curious it is that the Queen built this wonderful place on the

flight path to Heathrow. But she has got a wry sense of humour, and if

you are in the Palace, which is the oldest inhabited palace in Europe...

Here we go! If you are having lunch with her, she hears an aeroplane

going over, she can tell you what the aeroplane is, without even

looking up. Sebastian Coe, you yourself, a former MP, like Gyles

Brandreth, it is when we see the personal and the state coming

together - that is one of the most significant things about our Queen?

Yes, and it is an extraordinary person. I am 60 this year, I do not

ever remember a time when... It is the new 40! It is, I keep telling

myself! I cannot remember a time when she has not been the Queen. So

the issue, actually, is about the way she is just committed to what

she does, and her interest in people, which we saw time and time

again, especially around the Games. We will be speaking to each of you

again during the morning. Of course the focus is on the celebrations

which will be taking place here in Windsor today. We are all here to

celebrate, it really has been 90 glorious years. Here is a little

reminder of what you truly remarkable life it has been.

NEWSREEL: Princess Elizabeth celebrates her 16th birthday by

inspecting the Grenadier Guards at Windsor Castle. I declare before you

all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted

to your service and to the service of our great imperial family, to

which we all belong. The King attends a luncheon in honour of

visiting states people. By coincidence, it is held on Princess

Elizabeth's 21st birthday. A happy occasion. With the eldest

children home from school, father back from his travels and the family

together again to celebrate mother's birthday. The day happily coincided

with the State Opening of Parliament. My government will

continue to work for peace and security in all parts of the world,

through support for the United Nations. The Royal Standard, flying

high, indicating that Her Majesty the Queen is in residence. The Royal

Family is there to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's 50th birthday. The Queen

celebrated her 60th birthday, a day when Pomp and pageantry gave way to

the ordinary people. Members of the Royal Family are holding a private

party for the Queen tonight to celebrate her 70th birthday. As one

gets older, birthdays seem to come round quicker. They are therefore

less obviously excuses for wider celebration than personal moments.

As Groucho Marx once said, anyone can get old - all you have to do is

to live long enough. Today is the Queen's 85th birthday. That Diamond

Jubilee, celebrating 60 years on the throne, is now within sight.

Remarkable. Sebastian Kehl is still with me and we have been joined by

historian Robert Lacey. Welcome. I mentioned in the introduction, of

course we all know that she was not born to be Queen and yet she found

herself in that position. Just remember, just remind us of the

historical circumstances that meant this was the young woman who would

become Queen. She was born in 1926, obviously, in London, to the then

Duke of York. Then, as now, the Duke of York is the title given to the

second son. So nobody thought she was going to be Queen. We know that

for a fact because Queen Victoria said anybody who is likely to go in

line hast to it called Victoria or Albert in their name, she hasn't got

Victoria in her name. It was only the now-defunct daily sketch that

said there's a chance this girl might be Queen. Nobody else took it

seriously. And they were living as a happy come new, young family in the

centre of Mayfair, that indeed was where she was born. Bruton Street

was where her grandparents lived. They then moved to 147 pick a -- 147

Piccadilly where the Hard Rock Cafe now is. She used to look out through

her window across to Buckingham Palace and waved to her grandfather

George V, whom she called grandpa par England. And charmed by this

footage. I think this is from 1931. This is the young princess. Look at

her, having a good look round. She was bridesmaid, I think, on that

day. And at what point, what was happening in the young princess's

life? That was the marriage of Lady May Cambridge, one of the lesser

members of the Royal family who played a bigger role in those days

than they do now. It was just after the birth of Princess Margaret.

There had been hoped that maybe Margaret might be a boy. They

weren't altogether happy, they'd come to see that the future King,

Edward BA, David as they called then, wasn't quite the thing. Mrs

Simpson hadn't quite appeared yet but already there was anxiety that

he would do his stuff and maybe this Duke of York and his family would

matter. And what are we going to do with two girls? They actually had an

enquiry, maybe we will have a joint Queen ship. Because everything in

those days was up for grabs. 1926, 1930, it's only a dozen years since

the Russians, the Germans, the Austrians have all been wiped out.

We've been reinvented as the house of Windsor. Pretty dangerous times.

Sebastien Turgot on, one of the features, people talk about the

young Queen, she said she would be devoted to your service. The idea of

service is the remarkable feature that shines through, this is a woman

who promised to devote herself to her nation and Commonwealth and

goodness knows she has done it. And done it with such a personal touch.

The family commitment to sport is extraordinary. I currently chair the

British Olympic Association. We've had parents and grandparents and

members of the Royal household who have been our presidents and patrons

for years and years and a commitment to sport is an extraordinary one,

and in large part was very, very helpful. Buckingham Palace hosted

the evaluation visit of the IOC, and although experts, on a Friday night,

which is unheard of, very unusual to be able to do that at Buckingham

Palace on a Friday night anyway. In a large part that helped nudge is a

crossed the line. It has been very interesting today to see the very

different cross-section of people that have streamed out of the

station and here onto the streets. That appeal across the world is a

tangible thing. Yes it is. And it is genuinely global. We had a laugh a

few moments ago about the Olympic footage, but that is still one of

the most popularly asked for pieces of film anyway. Thank you. Now let's

find Sonali Shah, she's out in the crowds. She is joined by somebody

else who I think crowds. She is joined by somebody

their very special day. I am with three generations of the

Osbourne family. Baby Jock I am with three generations of the

celebrating his first birthday. Dad Simon, when did you realise your son

shared a birthday with Her Majesty? About two hours after he was born.

It's the sort of thing I just know, I don't know why. I know the Queen

was born on the 21st of April and it stuck in my mind. Is that why you

went with a royal main? Yes, years called John officially. Simon's

family have a tradition where first sons begin with the J. A very nice

name. Grandparents, you have come all the way from Perth in Scotland,

what does the Queen mean to you? The Queen means a huge amount. She is a

wonderful, constant force. So much has happened in the last 60 years

and she has always been there. Very special to be here on a day like

this. And a special weekend, you still have to celebrate Jock's

birthday. Yes, we will go to the park tomorrow with some friends and

hopefully the weather will be nice for a knick-knack, roll around in

the sun, hopefully. We've got to point out the family tartan, and a

lovely sporran. And these shoes, very prints George-esque. And maybe

we could set him up with Princess very prints George-esque. And maybe

Charlotte, what do you think? Wait and see. Well, have a lovely day.

Thanks. STUDIO: Jock, you wear your tiny kilt well. Now to a group of 90

or old. Everybody at the Guildhall party celebrates their 90th birthday

this year. They have come together to share their anniversaries with

each other and later they will be meeting the Queen, many for the

first time. Three of the guests, Albert, Rupert and Peggy, met to

reminisce about their 90 years and share their memories of the Queen.

So, you are 90, like the Queen. That's right. And you are 90? On

March 21, I am just one month older than the Queen. Welcomer you do all

right. I've recognised fairly on that we

were the same age, growing up at same time. I feel somehow or other

most of the important times in my life has been sort of parallel to

the Queen. Obviously when I was born and then growing up and then I got

married the year before they did. And my son was born six weeks before

Prince Charles, so that's a bit of a coincidence as well. Occasionally I

have had people say to me I look like the Queen. I remember I was in

Wales, and this is a lot of years ago, and a lady came up to me there

and said if I didn't know the Queen was in Canada, I'd think you were

there. I thought I might become a lookalike. You never know, do you?

Is your cake nice? Very nice. Have you met the Queen? Unfortunately I

haven't had that honour. But I have been as close to her as I am to Ruby

now. I saw her, we were coming past, we had a little Morris Minor, and

the police stopped us, one policeman stopped us. She came by, the Queen,

on a horse. Joan and me waved to her and she waved back, which I thought

was fantastic. Then she rode on. All on her own. Just the one policeman.

It's unbelievable. She takes everything in her stride, doesn't

she? She's been a remarkable lady. Been there through all of that 90

years. We've grown up with her, haven't we? That's right. She's got

a bit more cash than we've got! haven't we? That's right. She's got

be fair, there's not too many people reach 90 and as able as the Queen

is. I know what aches and pains she gets. Because you wake up in the

morning, you don't know where the aches will be. But she doesn't seem

to have many days off work, does she? She certainly fit mentally and

physically, isn't she? She obviously has to meet people, read papers of

state or the time and various other things. Glasses, she just seems to

wear them like I do, for reading. Think she's got all of her own

teeth, but I've got most of mine. I think she has, because I've never

seen her with false teeth, but then I've never been close enough to

look. There'll never be another one like her. No, we won't see that

again. She's good. When I see her standing at parades and things, I

think I couldn't stand there like that. And she doesn't have anybody

to take her up and down steps. I go up and down steps and I'm looking

for a rail to help myself down! I think she's a wonderful woman.

Doesn't matter what anybody says. They can't run her down. Not to me.

Let's drink a toast to the Queen. To the Queen. Here's to the Queen. May

she reigned for a long time. This food is not bad. Albert, Peggy and

Ruby are with us this morning. Since we made that film, Albert, we've had

some exciting news? We have. She's a lovely person, I loved to be with

her, and we are going to be talking to her, which is great. You now are

going to meet her? We are now going to meet her, which is great, looking

forward to it an awful lot. What a fabulous honour, really. None of

you, I know, have met the Queen before. What would it mean to meet

Her Majesty? It's a great honour, Chris. I really think it's an

honour. I shall remember all of the rest of what I've got left in my

life. I think she fantastic, absolutely fantastic. She makes you

want to stay young. If she can do it, we can do it! Ruby, I know you

are very excited about her. We are trying to understand the royal

etiquette. Do you know if she knows anything about you? I think that

somebody has said something about... I have asked some questions about

things that I have done. It's going to be sort of a weird and a

wonderful experience, because your lives have been travelling along,

alongside each other, you feel there is a bond? Yes. I think most of the

important events in our lives have been sort of parallel. I was born

just before she was, my son was born just before Prince Charles. And I

got married just before she did. So it's quite amazing. I hope you have

a wonderful time. I know you are trying to get into a bit of racing

with her. You are very privileged. Please tell us a little bit later on

what she actually says to you and how you get on. No cuddling, Albert!

No kissing either. STUDIO: Albert, what ever you do,

don't ask her if she's got all her own teeth, I think that would breach

royal protocol. Dame Joan Collins is here, Katherine Jenkins has joined

us, and June Brown, the actress from EastEnders. We were hearing from

Chris about meeting the Queen, and of course when you meet the Queen,

there is only one Queen and the nerves tend to get to some people. I

know she is somebody you have met on a few occasions. You are a performer

so you are used to dealing with nerves, what is it like when you

know you will be introduced to Her Majesty? Whenever you do a

performance at the Royal variety show, they line up all the artists,

you get to say a few words with Her Majesty, which is a really exciting

moment. I was invited to have lunch at King Palace a few years ago,

which was such a wonderful invitation to receive -- at

Buckingham Palace. In that situation I was very nervous, how would I cope

with my table manners? Would they be up to par? Actually it was a

wonderful experience. I had an amazing time. I found that Her

Majesty helped me, she was very kind and generous in showing me, in a

same situation, when I did not know what I would do. In what respect?

So, they brought up late to the table with a piece of gauze and a

very large oversized finger bowl, I did not know what to do with it. I

was having a bit of a panic. They brought a tray of fruit. I think I

took a peach or nectarine, held it in my hand and I was waiting for

somebody. I really feel like she sensed my anxiety, caught my eye,

and showed me that I needed to wash the piece of fruit and try it with

the gauze underneath the bold. I was very thankful for the way she did

that in such a nice way. Dame Joan Collins, I've spoken to lots of

people who had the opportunity to speak to the Queen, they always say

her attention to detail is extraordinary, and we have some

great photographs of you from out the years, from your personal

archive, of you meeting the Queen. What was the first time?

I think the first time was the opening of a movie called Dr

Dolittle. That was in the 1960s. Shortly afterwards, there was the

Variety performance. And the most nerve-wracking occasion for me was

the Royal Albert Hall, when I had to be on stage, reciting the John

Lennon poem Imagine with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and that was

totally, totally terrifying. To be in the Royal Albert Hall in front of

the Queen and Prince Philip, and then I met her afterwards with my

young daughter Katie. And then the last time was at Buckingham Palace,

which I think was about a year and a half ago. It was for Rada, and

afterwards, the students performed some of Pygmalion. Afterwards, when

I was chatting with the Queen, she knew all about Bernard Shore, she

knew all about Pygmalion, she knew all about Rada, she seems to know

everything that she is... So well-informed! And so charming. June

Brown, thank you very much well-informed! And so charming. June

joining us. The first thing you did today was to come here and wave your

flag. You are personally a fan of the Queen? Well, to say I have known

her all my life sounds ridiculous, because I haven't. But we are of an

age. I am ten months younger because I haven't. But we are of an

afternoon, to watch The Crazy Gang or something - and she was on the

newsreels. We would have one line of dialogue, I would walk along, rather

prim, and I would say, come along, Margaret, don't lag behind! And I

have met her several times. Actually, that was in the later

times. But in the early days, I actually sat out overnight at the

coronation. I sat in The underneath something for shelter,

because it was raining. It underneath something for shelter,

lovely. So you sat out? I sat out all night. I was supposed to be in

the theatre rehearsing a play. wish those planes would go away! We

used to call them little wish those planes would go away! We

then. It was the Irving theatre. So you missed the rehearsal? Yes, they

came looking for me in The Mall, but they could not find me because I was

up near the Palace. It in the night, by the way, because

Everest was newspapers came and there were

cheers, and it was raining, and in the morning,

cheers, and it was raining, and in And then the rain stopped. One after

cheers, and it was raining, and in another, the grey capes and the

tunics came off. And then the coronation started. I have got to

show up, haven't I?! We will have to wait for another moment, but that

snapshot was fascinating. Thank you very much for that. I have got

another story, but never mind. Maybe later! We can go back now to Sonali

another story, but never mind. Maybe Shah, who this time I

another story, but never mind. Maybe joined by members of the Cubs

another story, but never mind. Maybe the Boy Scouts. I am indeed. I am

with a group of Berkshire Scouts. It is not just the Queen acre

celebrating a big is not just the Queen acre

year. The Cub Scouts are 100. Yesterday's you got a special

present from the Queen? Yes, because of the occasion, the Queen sent us a

letter during her birthday week. It is a great honour to receive

something. That she has taken time out of her birthday to give us a

letter. How special was it to receive this letter in the week of

the Queen's Birthday? It was extremely special and it was a great

honour. What does it mean to be here with these huge crowds to wish the

Queen a happy birthday, what does she mean to you? She is the ruling

monarch and she has been here for so long now. I just think that she is

able to make the world a better place. And that is what she said as

a child in her first radio broadcast, that she thought children

could make the world a better place. What is like having the Queen as a

patron? It is a great inspiration as she helps the community in so many

ways. And us as Scouts are able to do that as well so he the biggest

role models we could have as our patron. Lovely to lovely to talk to

you all. I hope she stops and talks to you. Happy birthday! Everybody of

course wants to pay their personal tribute to Her Majesty today. We

caught up with some other special guests.

Your Majesty, thank you for the years of commitment, service and

dedication to our country. And of course, for my damehood. Happy

birthday, ma'am. Happy birthday, I hope you have a magical day. We are

so proud and lucky to have you. Happy birthday. Your Majesty, you

have done couple incredible job over so many years, and you are an

inspiration to us all. I hope you have a truly wonderful birthday.

Your Majesty - on behalf of the Royal Air Force and 135 Combined

Expeditionary Air Wing, I would like to wish you a very happy birthday.

Happy birthday, Your Majesty, from everybody here. Good evening, Mr

Bond. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday,

Your Majesty. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, ma'am.

That was definitely James Bond, not Daniel Craig! Definitely James Bond!

We welcome Stephen Doyle, Diana quick, and Gyles Brandreth again.

Let's talk for a moment about performance. -- Steven Donnelly. An

important part of royalty is that they are seen to be royal. You have

directed actresses who have tried to capture the Queen on stage, most

memorably, for me, Dame Helen Mirren, with Kristin Scott Thomas.

When you are directing, what are you saying to them? Well, it is very

hard. As Peter Morgan says, she is the most visible, invisible woman in

the world. We think we know her, but we don't. She maintains this enigma,

quite appropriately. Diana will talk about this herself. You have to

project your own feelings about her. She will never tell you who she is,

you have to invent, if you like. And so any portrayal has to be an

imaginative version of who that person might be. And also, the

portrayal of the Queen on stage and in cinema has a long and illustrious

history? Yes, but only in recent years, really. It was Prunella

Scales in 1988, which caused a scandal, because portraying a living

monarch is a recent trend, if you like. It was not really allowed

before Prunella Scales did it at the National Theatre. Diana, you have

done it on two specific occasions, first portraying her in her

mid-30s...? I did the play where she meets Blunt in the gallery at

Buckingham Palace, which is the bit which Stephen was talking about. And

then I played her when she was wrestling with the question of

whether to allow Charles and Camilla to be publicly acknowledged. That

was in the Channel 4 drama. Yes. And so, given that so much of what we do

is to project onto her, because little is actually known of her

personality, how did you begin to construct the way you would play her

on stage? Well, I had a great deal of help, from movement people and

dialect coaches. Because the Queen has changed of course, it has become

much more democratised, so there is that to consider. But also I was

astonished to learn that as a child, the little royal princesses had

ballet to teach them how to move and sit and turn in public, to do it in

the most graceful way. And of course, one just assumes that the

Queen has very good posture and so on and a great Pacitti for serenity,

but all of that is a sort of iron discipline, it is learned. , so one

starts with the external is and then tries to imaginatively create the

humanity. I washed a great deal of footage of her, and one thing which

really helped was seeing some footage of her at Balmoral with her

gun dogs, taking them out, and watching her favourite dog be sent

in pursuit of a bird that had fallen. And her absolute intensity

and focus and unself-consciousness. And when the dog had retrieved the

bird and brought it back, she stopped and petted it and everybody

applauded it. And the Queen looked up and was for a moment very, very

self-conscious, and said, if one had known one was being observed, one

would not have done it. The sound in the background is the Coldstream

Guards, who are going to be playing throughout the morning. And we are

contending with the planes overhead as well. This element of

performance, Gyles Brandreth? She is not a performer, but I think she can

perform. She is a good mimic, she can sing, she can even sing the

songs of George Formby, she is a George Formby enthusiast. But that

she does in private. She is not at all self-conscious, she does not see

herself as a performer or as a personality. Driven by duty,

sustained by faith, she is the Queen. When she comes out today, she

will not play to the cameras for one moment - she will be in the moment

with the people that she meets. She loves mimicry. She does, but not as

you, she does not do impressions! But she can tell a story and then

she will relive the moment. One great thing you did with Alan

Bennett's script, it was so witty... And she is very sparky in it. She

never goes to see these plays in which she appears. Prince Charles

went to see a play about Nell Gwyn the other day. The Queen would never

dream of doing something like that. She is not interested in herself.

She is outward looking. With a great sense of humour, which sometimes we

do not appropriate. -- we do not appreciate. The Palace actually went

to the Queen, for that thing with the picks, and she kept it a secret,

I think as a practical joke for her grandchildren. I could sit here

listening to you all morning, but for now, we have got other things to

do. It is the lady who has been tasked with baking a cake fit for

the Queen. It is of course The Great British Bake Off champion. We went

to find out how her preparations for the big day were going.

To get the call to make a special cake for the Queen, what was it

like, how did you find out? I got this e-mail, and then I got a phone

call. There were just a couple of operative words, which was Queen and

birthday cake! I thought, right, that is the Queen's Birthday cake!

It is just enormous! I can't...! And I still can't quite believe that I

have to do this! I have brought in some examples of some of the Queen's

cakes in the past. What do you think of this one, from 1947, the wedding

cake? That is opulent, isn't it? That is quite something. All the

decoration. You can tell that has taken weeks to make. One thing I

wanted it to be was something that I think she would like. So I thought,

no fruitcake. I am doing a orange drizzle cake. I figured, if Mary

Berry likes Lemon drizzle... The royalty of cakes, it is almost

royalty! That's right. She probably wants something a bit different. Do

you start with a sketch, with an idea? I have sketch pads in every

part of my house. Literally something as basic as that. These

lines mean something to me - they may not do you! But I understand

them, it is like my secret line which! Do you go down to Buckingham

Palace to bake it? No, I am doing it in my kitchen, in my oven. That is

the oven?! That is the oven! I feel very privileged now. Eggs, baking

powder. Lovely. Madeira, that is like a sponge, right? Yes, an orange

Madeira drizzle. Is it a trusted recipe? This is my trusted recipe

which I got in 1995. Do you think the Queen will take the cake? I

don't know if I want her to taste the Queen will take the cake? I

it! She might hate it! She might the Queen will take the cake? I

It would be This bit is the creative bit. Yes.

be perfectly honest. This bit is the creative bit. Yes.

You can buy these pulsed This bit is the creative bit. Yes.

dummies anywhere. I always have a bit of a go on them. This is kind of

the icing on the cake, but bit of a go on them. This is kind of

first. It is really important that I bit of a go on them. This is kind of

get right. I might decide, this is not the right size, I might want to

gone purple, hatching your scarf, even your knife - you like that

colour, obviously? Not pushing purple on the Queen, but I am just

So that's on top, and visualising hoping she likes purple! She had

So that's on top, and visualising the rest being purple, what do you

think? I feel like it needs to be bigger. Go on, you show me what you

would do now. I was thinking of going with white lace, imagine that

on three separate tiers. If I loosen it slightly, and have white silver

roses billowing down. That's all going on in there. When you decide

on the design, do you stick it in the boot and drive down to Windsor?

There's nothing worse than having the cake in the boot, it's an

bearable. I have a Currier to come and pick up the cake, I will hand it

over, say a prayer, and say, see you at the other end. I cannot wait to

see the final product. Not long now until we see the final

product. Has the cake got here safely? Yes, got here in three

pieces. Three pieces, so I'm getting close, it is three tiers? Yes, three

tiers and I have constructed it now into one whole cake I'm hoping it

stays that way. You looked petrified in the process, how are you feeling

now? I am OK. I was nervous this morning. I know that when it is over

it will be over so I am trying to enjoy every moment. Did you go for

purple? I went for purple but ditched the lace and went for

something more modern. In the end I did not like the lace. It is not

fruit cake, it is orange Madeira, with a drizzle? Still orange

Madeira, it has orange drizzle and then a marmalade and butter cream

filling. Sounds delicious. We don't know whether the Queen will even

tasted. Do you know what you will say to her and will you make her

taste it? I cannot make her taste it, can I? You can't. It would be

great if she did. I haven't even decided what I will do. I should

probably start thinking about that now is. You should start thinking

very, very quickly. Thank you. These happy and excited faces behind you,

good morning, guys. We wish you the very best of luck with the Queen.

Don't make her taste it. STUDIO: You can't make her do anything. Michael

Moore pergolas here and Robert Lacey has joined us again.

Michael, you brought a rather special guest! Yes, that's Joey from

the National Theatre production of War horse which ran in London for

seven years and is currently running in China. In a way he has become a

character outside the production, I have to say. He is a remarkable

horse because the Queen came to see him with the Duke of Edinburgh about

five years ago, sort of in secret. She crept into the theatre and

nobody knew she was there until half-time. Then the bus got around.

They did the show. I think she became quite enchanted with this

horse. I think we are looking at the only horse that has had a private

audience with the Queen at Windsor Castle. So I think she really loves

this horse. I think they've met on at least half a dozen occasions.

It's wonderful that on her 90th birthday he can be here to sing

It's wonderful that on her 90th own happy birthday. Willie Carson,

the Queen's love of horses and the entire equine world is something

written about and spoken about for so many decades. You will know that

it is a genuine love and lies at the very heart of who she is. It has to

be. If she hadn't been the Queen she would have been involved with

horses, I'm sure she would have done that. Very knowledgeable? Ooh, of

course. If you make a mistake saying something about one of her horses to

Her Majesty, she will pick you up and tell you what really happened.

She can go back, she's had horses since something like 1947, a

long-time. I want to show you all a bit of footage which I think is

spectacular. This is the Queen had, I think, hips. Let's just watch

this. Talk about an unguarded moment. Off she goes. Look at this,

look at the concentration. And then she realises that it's her horse

that in the lead. Wait until see this.

That's my horse! I've got that one in the sweep! I think she won ?16 on

that. This love of horses goes right back in the Queen's history many

decades. It goes back to a very early birthday she had when she got

given her first pony. That was the beginning of it. She also got very

interested in the professional racehorses. Her father inherited the

Royal racing stable. Wasn't really keen on it but kept it going for the

sake of the employment and the tradition. Her first horse was given

to her by the Aga Khan. Apparently she was only three years old when

she had her first riding lesson. Show me what you are wearing.

Everybody looks splendid today, but these cuff links take the biscuit.

That is a present I got after the Silver jubilee, winning the Oaks on

the Queen's Dunfermline. It was just a fairy tale that happen. The day

started with riding work, got into my car, had a little accident on the

single-track road on the way to the races, went back home, jumped in the

car, got a message to say I would be late. I missed the first race. The

trainer of Dunfermline got Joe Mercer on stand-by. Anyway,

everything went well until the race. We jumped out and got knocked back

to second last in the race. I was getting into a panic state when we

got up to the top of the hill, I went out and round and everything

worked well. Great results. Not just for me and for Her Majesty but the

whole country rejoiced in Dunfermline winning the Oaks on

jubilee day virtually. What time win it. We will go back to Sonali Shah.

She's been joined by another well-wishers in the crowd.

There are lots of flags from the Commonwealth, and Margaret has been

proudly displaying her Canadian flag. She has travelled all the way

from Ontario province to be here especially for the Queen on her 90th

birthday, what made you come all this way? Well, she's my sovereign

and she's 90 and we are very proud of her in Canada, we are so happy to

have a Queen and a monarchy. I can smell your beautiful hyacinths. You

have some gifts for her? It is played from when her mother and

father came to Canada before the war in 1939. And the flowers, and a

maple leaf? I brought oppressed maple leaf from last fall, because

she's the Queen, and they say she the maple Queen in Canada. What is

so special about the Queen, which quality do you most admire? She's

the most durable lady I know. She just has wearing capacity which none

of the rest of us have. Well, Her Majesty is due out soon, so I'll

leave you to it and I do hope she comes in talks to you. Thank you so

much. Just wonderful scenes all comes in talks to you. Thank you so

of real celebration. We think it not too long to go until the Queen makes

that first public appearance to mark her 90th birthday. The crowds are

swelling and the sun has come out. When she comes out of the castle

with the Duke of Edinburgh in about ten minutes time, we've just got

time to remind ourselves of some of the historic moments of the past 90

years. Here is our 92nd countdown to 90 years of Her Majesty's life.

# We'll meet again # Don't know where, don't know where

in # But your gladrags on

# Have some fun when the clock strikes one

# Wigan Rock around the clock to Love, Love me do

# You know I love you # I'll always love you

# Digging the dancing Queen # I'm still standing after all this

time # Picking up the pieces of my life

without you on my mind # I'll tell you what I want

# What I really, really want # I just can't get you out of my

head # Boyet it's more than eidetic think

about happiness is the truth

#. I don't think that was the Queen's personal playlist that we

saw, there. Robert Turner, there are many consistent themes when people

talk about the Queen, when people write books about the Queen, when

people make documentaries about the Queen, and of course it is the

continuity of monarchy that has been offered by her long reign, and the

fact that for 90 years, we have known all about her and her life.

She is just utterly reassuring, this constant. It rings true in other

parts of the world where life is a little less stable than here, where

we are lucky to have had long years of freedom. You talk to people in

war zones, places that have had revolutions or whatever, the Queen

is this paragon of stability, not just for Britain but for the planet.

She's always been there. And what about this paradox? We saw some

wonderful behind-the-scenes about this paradox? We saw some

in your documentary, this paradox of us feeling she is somebody with whom

we are utterly familiar and yet we do not know her? How she does it is

amazing. On the one hand we all feel we know her, the Queen would like

this, the Queen wouldn't like that. At the same time we don't

this, the Queen wouldn't like that. know. There is this mystery. At the

same time she is a dependable figure. We know she's never going to

change. We know the figure we are about to see walking down Windsor is

exactly the same as the person we saw 50 years ago, 70 years ago. She

doesn't change. She is utterly dependable. In a changing world that

is a reassuring quality to have. Robert, there are plenty of people

who may want to talk about the fact, is it worth having a monarchy or

not, but few could argue with the fact that this continuity and

consistency, as David Cameron himself said today, is a rock upon

which many people in Britain like to hang their coat. And not just

Britain either. I've just been studying particularly the 50s and

60s when almost every year there was a new nation becoming independent.

It was the end of the British Empire. In addition to Australia,

New Zealand, Canada, I think a dozen of those countries that became

independent chose to become monarchies. Barbados, Jamaica.

Partly of course because it meant the prime ministers became Sir and

their wives became Lady, but not just that. We should remember, it's

not just the Queen of Great Britain celebrating her birthday, it is the

Queen of 1415 other countries around the world. Just a matter of moments

until we see the Queen, and by her side of course will be the Duke of

Edinburgh. 95 in June this year. Somebody once said love consists of

not necessarily looking into each other's eyes but looking in the same

direction, and these two people share values, and they are fit and

they are remarkable. I once asked the Queen's private secretary while

Prince Philip seemed to be so dynamic and go ahead and the Queen

seemed conservative and consistent. He said she is deliberately like

that, he wants to go fast but she wants to go at the pace of the

slowest person in the kingdom so that nobody in the kingdom feels

left behind. How interesting. Very interestingly and consistently, when

I speak to guests on Desert Island discs, who have quite often met the

Queen first-hand, they say she alters her pace to your pace, she is

very tuned into people. That's not necessarily something you would

expect. That's because they are interested in you, not themselves.

They don't belong to the age of the selfie, they belong to the edge of

the selfless. Perhaps that is to do with their generation. Napoleon once

said, if you want to understand a person, look at the year in which

that person turns 21. Think what life was like in the Second World

War, they still exemplify those values. One of the reasons we also

admire them and thousands of people have gathered today. Very

interesting to see just how busy the streets have become. We should say

of course I mentioned earlier that it will be the Coldstream Guards

that are playing. The Queen is Colonel in Chief of the regiment and

has a long association. One other thing I am reminded of by what Gyles

said. We always talk about the gaffes made by Prince Philip, and

his sense of humour. I think we should remember that a sense of

humour that she loves. It is devised for her. He makes those remarks for

her benefit, not ours, and we just happen to be bystanders and over

here is. Viewers are just enjoying these wonderful shots of Windsor

Castle. Gyles, you were regaling us with the historical perspective. The

largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. And here is the

national anthem. And we can see the Queen being

greeted. I am being told that is a spring grass green coat, made by

Miss Angela Kelly. With fresh flowers pinned to the rim of the

hat. She is being greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire. And

also the mayor of the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. A special

day for them, and of course for the Queen. We were not due to have

sunshine today, and yet somehow, magically, the sun is out. And I

believe, a special tune. And so here we see, Robert, the

Queen on her royal walkabout. Something which has become such a

feature of the monarchy. What is it about them which is important? We

are looking at the monarch who invented them, back in 1970, on a

tour of New Zealand. Suddenly the Queen and her advisers thought,

let's just change things around a bit. Let's break away and go and

meet some ordinary people. They tried it out. It was immediately

called a walkabout, and it has been there ever since. It is very much

part of the day-to-day nuts and bolts of monarchy. As the Queen

herself has said, I need to be seen to be believed. And this is how she

does it. Robert, tell us how this tells us about the changing nature

of monarchy? This is a Queen who has grown and grown with the role of

what is expected of modern monarch. And she has done it in a time when I

suppose she must be faced not just by cameras but by camera phones as

well. She understands that she is required by the media to get out

there. She understands her own role. She understands she only represents

something greater than herself. And she and those around her how this

great ability for inventing tradition. As Robert says, this

great ability for inventing invented in her own reign. She is

very good at picking up ideas as she goes around, particularly from

Australia and New Zealand. All of those new innovations, a lot of them

came through the those new innovations, a lot of them

whom she recruited. She felt that her existing press officials were

rather stuffy and old-fashioned. There was one of them who was known

as the Abominable No-Man, because he said no to the press on every

occasion. She herself has changed all of that. But she is confused by

the people taking photographs on their mobiles. She says, you are

seeing it through a screen, it seems strange. I just want to draw

people's attention to the warhorse there. I am very much hoping that

Her Majesty the Queen... She does not go to the theatre that often,

but she went to that one, and loved it. But this short of thing, she is

a constant -- she is accustomed to. She went to Australia, and millions

of people turned out in the street. If the Queen took it upon herself,

one of the adulation would have been corrosive. But she does not take it

for herself, she knows that that is what she does. She is often touched

by it, but she does not think, I am a personality. As you can see, she

is completely unaffected. Some of her most devoted followers have been

camping out overnight. Some of those you will have seen

camping out overnight. Some of those Hospital last year for the

camping out overnight. Some of those the Royal Family. And it was indeed

the case that a cake was sent out to one of them who was celebrating

their birthday. one of them who was celebrating

that whenever we cover royal events, we are used to seeing, those of us

who do the broadcasts, the court royal supporters, who are there.

Yes, they would be out there if it wasn't snowing. And she is the same

Queen when there are wasn't snowing. And she is the same

a small ward in a hospital as when there are 100,000 people in The

Mall. She is so consistent, it is quite extraordinary. Robert Lacey, I

have read that, we speak so quite extraordinary. Robert Lacey, I

about the themes of duty, and I was reading that the Queen'sfather was

somebody who had an I and sense of duty, as

somebody who had an I and sense of It seems he has passed that on? The

sense of duty, yes, comes from her father, from her mother of course,

the Queen Mother. But before that, King George V and Queen Mary, who

shepherded the monarchy through those difficult years. They called

it the house of Windsor, which next year will be celebrating 100 years.

It is worth remembering that these people believe in what they are

doing. Duke of Edinburgh is actually more royal than the Queen, because

she is actually only half royal in that her father was a king. Whereas

on Duke of Edinburgh's side, that her father was a king. Whereas

his parents were royalty. They are both great, great band children of

Queen Victoria. They believe in what they are doing. The house of Windsor

was created in 1917. It was decided that this was the way to go. Many

means were discussed - why was it that this place, this ancient

castle, would be the name to be taken by the modern Royal Family?

They had focus groups within the Palace. All sorts of names, do you

remember any? Yes, well, do you remember, the joke about putting on

a play called The Merry Wives Of Sachs But Goater?! It was one person

who came up with the name Windsor, and that was it, on the spot. The

other thing about the sense of duty is that it is intimately linked with

her religious faith. When she said in 1947 that she swore to do duty

before, but, she has a personal God in whom she believes, to whom she

prays. The praying tonight and she will be celebrating but they are not

just with a party, but with prayers and vital readings which she does

every day. And we just saw the Duke of Edinburgh. It brings me back to

appoint made by a former private secondary, when asked about the

Queen's longevity. He said, the Queen is as strong as a yak, which

is an interesting analogy. He put it down to three things - good health,

strong faith and Prince Philip. He's going to be 95 in June. He was

a Greek Lord when he was young. Apparently every morning he does

have now stretching. He has one of those old-fashioned chest expanders.

And a disciplined diet. Absolutely. He does not drink too much. And of

course they are on their feet a lot of their lives. One reason I think

they are so fit and well is, they stand a great deal. That is Hugo

Vickers, I think. Let's just talk for a moment about this walkway. The

Queen is going to unveil a panel for a walkway which will go throughout

Windsor for just under four miles, I think. What is its significance? It

is a very clever idea by Hugo Vickers, who we can see talking to

the Queen. He started this some years ago with the Jubilee walkway.

They are now spreading out all over the Commonwealth. It is a way of

bringing together aspects of the Commonwealth in any locality,

encouraging people to walk and giving them a historical route. Here

in Windsor, at the moment there are 63 discs and you can follow them

with a little guidebook, one for each year the Queen has rained. And

there are going to add one for each subsequent year. She is standing

next to a panel which explains all of this for visitors. From that

particular spot, it has been chose because she can look up at the

Castle... We can hear a lovely little fanfare. Pitch perfect.

Always. And so this walkway is very carefully placed, because it is from

where the Castle can be seen, the Guildhall can be seen, and the

parish church can be seen. Which is all highly significant, Robert

Lacey, the three pillars upon which the Queen's reign is built?

Absolutely. She is head of the Church of England. I had better stop

talking now. Is she going to say something? I'm not sure, I think she

is simply going to admire it. She is saying, well done, Hugo! Very

interesting, she gave a special forward to a book which came out a

month or so ago called The Servant Queen And The Master She Serves. And

it was a very interesting test me to her own personal religious faith,

which of course we see in Christmas broadcasts. When we hear the Queen

speak at the opening of Parliament, we know that is written for her by

somebody else. Her political and state speeches are written by a

mixture of her and the government. But the Christmas broadcast, we hear

the Queen herself talking to us about her own personal faith which

sustains her. Gyles Brandreth, can I ask you about the position of this?

It is also opposite the Victoria statue...? Both Prince Philip and

the Queen are the great, great grandchildren of Queen Victoria, who

lived almost as long as the Queen and rained almost as long, but not

quite. And it is a symbol of the great monarchs that we remember,

often the women. Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Elizabeth II. Windsor has

now become the headquarters of the Queen's reign. Forget Buckingham

Palace, that is done and dusted. This is where it is going to be.

Investitures now take place here. The Queen's council, the Privy

Council, happens now in Windsor. Tomorrow she is entertaining

President Obama and his wife at Windsor Castle. This is the heart of

her empire. They feel that they know the community here. Prince Philip

belongs to the local Rotary here, and I am told pops in. And he is

just like one of us! Unannounced or announced? Sometimes apparently

unannounced. They really do feel at ease in Windsor, and this is where

it is going to be happening from now on. Many monarchs have had a close

election with this place? Yes, during the war, she and Margaret

were said to be somewhere in the country, for security reasons. Well,

somewhere in the country was here, in the Lancaster tower! Very

primitive, medieval conditions. It was here she got her lessons in

constitutional history. In those days, it was possible to walk out

from the gates of the castle, down the high street, across the bridge,

to Eton College, to go and have their lessons in how the British

constitution works. Years later, William, at school in Eton, came

back, the reverse route, and had lessons in this castle. It is worth

remembering, William the Conqueror created this. Henry I was the first

monarch to come and live here permanently. We now have Prince

Harry. And George III and George IV built it as it now is. And we will

have Prince George as the king one day.

Let's talk for a moment about Prince William. He was careful to talk in

nothing less than respectful terms, as we would expect. But he had some

pretty interesting things to say about the weight of duty, and how he

has learned from watching his grandmother. He is conscious of the

fact that when the Queen was his age she was already on the throne. She

was thrown into it unexpectedly at 25 and he must appreciate what that

was like. The Queen equally understands that for young members

of the family, it is very important they lead a real life for as long as

they can. She was conscious of the fact that she would have loved to

have spent longer as a princess. It was a very sad moment. She is keen

for Prince William, Prince Harry, the younger generation, to get out

there and brief for as long as they can. This is destiny, it will come

to them one day, but in the meantime get on with life as much as they

can. Gyles, what about the intergenerational appeal? As we look

at these crowds gathered in Windsor, it strikes me that they span the

ages. We've got some special guests who are sharing their 90th birthday

year with the Queen. But there are very and easy as the young faces in

the crowd. They are not shouting and waving a flag because somebody has

told them to. It is now a royal family and you have a variety

told them to. It is now a royal this figure who has been part of

their lives. They know nothing else. But here she is, visible to them.

And apparently appealing to all, which is glorious to see. A trend we

have seen in these events. I noticed in the Diamond Jubilee, much younger

crowds. Every generation is in or of what she has done. Let's think about

the future monarchy. Many of the official pictures we have seen this

week are very dynastic pictures, here I am with some people who will

succeed me. I am here, doing a good job, I intend to be here for a long

time but there is more to come, and it is reliable and solid and I

embrace it. Yes. The message today is here is the Queen at 90, still

working, supported by the upcoming generations. Monarchy, of course, is

only as good as the people doing the job. And that's what was interesting

about the interview you discussed with William. Very interesting that

William, having perhaps slightly cast a little criticism on his

father's interventionist side, said, don't worry, when I become on, I'm

going back to the tried-and-true neutral institution or system of the

Queen. I just thought he was being refreshingly plain speaking, telling

it as he saw it. Having seen both Prince William and Catherine in

action, they do emulate, they are an interesting mixture of the Queen and

Prince Philip rather than Prince William's own parents, in the way

they interact with the public. They are doing it more the way of the

Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. I was intrigued, was it Prince William

who said, yes, the Queen is both my granny and the boss? And sometimes I

think of her more as the boss than granny. There is an invisible moat

around the Queen. Here she is mingling with us, and yet she is

still the Queen. This mingling with us, and yet she is

yellow. Everybody standing back with respect. You have a moment with her.

There she is, this symbolic figure. Nobody quite gets across that mode,

apart from the Duke of Edinburgh. And it is always the case with the

Queen that she enjoys the job. She loves the job. She'd have had ample

opportunity, if she wanted to, to stand back from this. There have

been applications all over the stand back from this. There have

in Europe in the past few years. For five monarchs,

in Europe in the past few years. For Spain, they've. Down. She loves it.

This wonderful moment, here she is Spain, they've. Down. She loves it.

been handed a gift, I thought it was the cake. This is the Guildhall, of

course, where Prince Charles married Camilla. And it's been at the heart

of civic life. Built by Christopher Wren, with colonnades that were not

necessary. Christopher Wren was appalled when they put up the

colonnades. They did not trust the architect. Wouldn't the world be a

dull place if we only did what was necessary. Lets not forget the

bigger context. Here we are mashed Meli -- here we are, nationally, at

the moment of great debate about whether we should join Europe, or

not, all sorts of things we disagree about. Here today we come together

to celebrate something that most people agree about. The politicians,

it's their job to disagree. The Queen is here to represent what

we'll stand for. Look at that smile. It's worth $1 million, isn't it?

It's extraordinary. The Queen will now be introduced to the key party

guests, they are also liberating their 90th birthday. Ruby, Peggy and

Arthur who we heard from earlier will be among the people introduced

to her this morning. Let's think for a moment, Gyles, about the Queen's

connection with the people of her generation, people who remember the

Second World War, who has been through the provisions of rationing.

This is key to understanding the Queen and Prince Philip, remembering

what they are like. If you ask the Duke of Edinburgh for his favourite

entertainer, you will tell you Tommy trend. He has an enthusiasm for

George Formby. Their childhood, their war years, that's at the heart

of what they are about. They still share those values. To date, it

would appear to be a delightfully British and terribly personal

celebration, the Queen is sharing what is her private personal day

with members of the public. How much will she and maybe Prince Philip

have had to do with actually choosing how she celebrates today

and how much of it is planned for her? Every detail will have been

discussed with her beforehand. Her private secretaries will have gone

through all this. She has probably already read up on who these people

are she is meeting now. She will probably even know that the mayor,

to her right, presented her with a posy when she herself was a little

girl. This is Windsor, this is home. But every detail has been run past

the Queen in advance. She doesn't like surprises. One thing the

Palisades is surprises. Although I'm not sure she knows what is on the

cake yet. But all is planned so it can go as smoothly as possible. It

is something that is very much generational. It is not in our

content free selfie culture, has Gyles characterised it. The idea

that you follow a routine, and that is not only to be battled against

but it can rather be enjoyed. Yes. The Queen's year-round months on

Balmoral in the summer, when she becomes a Scottish countrywoman, and

then as Gyles says, her new working headquarters of Windsor... She is a

creature of routine. Seen more as familiarity. She likes order as

well. I recall being in a line-up where the Lord Lieutenant have

muddled up two of the people, he introduced the Queen to the wrong

person. She said, I know who it is supposed to be, it isn't him. You've

got them standing in the wrong place. She doesn't like the Lord

Lieutenant retiring, they make them retire at 75. She likes to see the

same person. Remind us of that role. The Lord Lieutenant, throughout the

United Kingdom, there is a Lord Lieutenant in each county, they are

the one person when the Queen gets off the car or train, that person

will be her representative within the county. He or she is then the

person who takes the Queen around. She knows there is one port of call.

There was one in Wales who was due to retire, he was quite infirm. She

said, I must keep him, because he can say all the Welsh names. There

are people in their can say all the Welsh names. There

Queen being introduced to some of them now, some are sitting down to

meet the Queen. It was noticeable, those we spoke to earlier, saying, I

watch her, and I know my ex and pains when I wake up in the morning,

I know I need to grasp a rail, I know I couldn't walk around 45

minutes. Peggy said, I watch the Queen and I am amazed at her health

and fitness. Both her and the Duke seemed to be almost supercharged in

their energy. It's always amazing. You look at events where everybody

is sitting down except the Queen, on her feet for well over an hour.

After a long walk through the palace and back again. She likes standing

up. We will see it later. Maundy Thursday service, she hands out

pockets of money to a number of people. The Duke of Edinburgh,

because she is standing, won't sit down, even though they provide a

chair. So he is standing for two and a half hours. These people have been

standing up for an awful long time. And they are fit, they believe

that's what they should do. When the Queen used to visit her mother here

at Windsor when she was 100 years of age, her mother always, it is her

daughter was the door to say goodbye, even aged

daughter was the door to say accompany her daughter to the door

to say goodbye. It is a very busy week. I'm guessing a week that

fairly regularly represents what the Queen and the Duke do in terms of

their duty. Tomorrow, as you mentioned, Gyles, the Queen will

welcome President Obama and Michelle Obama, is this a state dinner, is it

a different occasion? It's an official visit. It's not a state

visit, it's an official visit. Detail the difference. State visit

is one where you are invited by the state to represent your country.

This is a more personal visit to the Queen. The Queen and Michelle Obama

got on very well. It is an opportunity to come. And in the

evening they will be meeting, not as you might expect perhaps Prince

Charles and Camilla, but the grandchildren. They expressed a

desire to meet Prince George and Prince Charlotte. She's meeting

Martha, who was the youngest ever quarterfinalist in the great British

Baker. Charming young woman, I thought. She has baked all the cakes

for the tea party, not the birthday cake which we are catching attempts

off to the right. So, Martha is chatting, as relaxed as can be.

She's been under the gimlet eye of Mary Berry, so she's used to

pressurised circumstances. There is a sense of genuine celebration.

There is a lightness of touch to everything, Gyles, which is

charming. There is now dear, the young woman who has been charged

with making, shall we say one of the cakes? I'm sure there might be more

than one. I wish we could hear what Prince Philip was saying about the

cake. I'm sure it would be something amusing. I love the way in which

your film recently about the Queen, the funniest moment was the accident

with the cake, do you remember? She couldn't cut the cake at the W I.

That was a fruitcake. Today it is not a fruitcake. That was the one

piece of advice she was given by the palace, not to be a fruitcake. There

was also a debate about candles. The decision was taken, if you put 90

candles, there would not be much room for cake. Looks like it is a

pretty smooth cut. Is she making a wish, do you think? Do you think we

will get a slice? Nadia did say she was very nervous, and try not to

hope it would all be over soon. I would love to know what Prince

Philip is saying about this. He's a very funny man. He said, if you see

a man opening a car door for his wife, it is either a new car or a

new wife. This is the moment when the lip readers of Great Britain are

enjoying this programme even more than we are. Looks like she is

appreciating all the work that has gone into that. For everybody it is

a day they will remember for the rest of their life. That's a very

interesting thing about any of us members of the public meeting the

monarch. All the royal family are conscious of the fact that it may

just be another day for them, but it just cannot be another day. The

people they meet will remember it for the rest of their lives. They

are on show and creating memories. As one royal spokesperson said, we

are in the happiness business. And all of these people will remember

today. You say the happiness business, and Gyles has been

mentioning the Duke, we tend to remember the rather pithy things

mentioning the Duke, we tend to says, but he has the capacity to be

funny. He feels it is part of his role to break the ice and make

people relax. He knows her presence is enough but he feels he has to do

something more. He does is enough but he feels he has to do

people laugh deliberately, but his real role is to look after the

Queen. If like us you have been too many of these occasions, if the

photographers get too close, it is the Duke of Edinburgh who says "Get

back, make way for the Queen!" discovered the other day, do you

know the moment when all plates are cleared at the state banquet? The

staff are told to look to Prince Philip and when he has finished

eating, you clear the plates. It does not matter what the guest of

honour is doing, or the Queen. So far as the Queen is concerned, the

Duke is the boss. As she says, she wears the crown, he wears the

trousers. Do you think that is what is at the

heart of what has been perceived as a fantastic union, the fact that he

is given his significant place in private? Totally. She admires him,

she loves him, she gives him every honour she can possibly think of.

She is rummaging in her honours draw every birthday of his comes around,

to think of something new every birthday of his comes around,

him. She says that, he has been... It is the longest royal marriage in

history. It is a great love story. People talk about Victoria and

Albert. They are going to talk about Elizabeth and Philip in exactly the

same way. Royal Variety Show once, during the interval, in a crowded

room, the Queen was surrounded by show business celebrities, and

standing in a corner of the room on his own, holding a glass, was the

Duke of Edinburgh. And I what as she caught his eye and he simply raised

his glass to her. It is very touching, those personal moments. It

goes back to the big ceremonial moment, 1953, the Coronation. He

swore to be her liege man in life and limb. Old-fashioned

swore to be her liege man in life very modern sentiment. I think we're

going to see quite a lot of that car in the years ahead. We are calling

it the Queen-mobile. As well as a normal engine, it has got an

electric engine so it can go very slowly and quietly on occasions like

this. You can see people a dozen deep on the other side. There is not

much more room for anyone. I tried walking through their about an hour

ago and it is absolutely solid. People are conscious that this is

our Island story. Think how wonderful it would have been if we

were there for Queen Victoria's Jubilee. We are here, in Windsor, on

the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth, our longest reigning

sovereign. And with her, her extraordinary partner, Prince

Philip. The Queen and the Duke will be looking forward to a private

party, hosted by her son. What form, Robert Hartman, can we expect it to

take? We have very little information. We know it is around 60

people, very close family and friends. Prince Charles has been

working on it, we are told, very closely. He has been keeping it very

secret. But it is a wonderful family. There will be surprises,

including entertainment. This you know, you're giving me that

information! But just in case the Queen over lunch replays this,

Kirsty, I do not want to give anything away - and there will be

surprises! It is going to be in the Waterloo chamber and it is a family

affair, but with some fun and games as well. Thank you, Gyles Brandreth!

And what do we know of the Waterloo chamber, Robert? It is named after

the great Battle of Waterloo. The banners hang there. It is a rather

wonderful mixture of personal and national. They did rename it for one

night when the president of France came, they called it The Music Room!

How delicate! You have got to remember, they live in this castle,

and their family has lived there since the reign of Henry I. This is

their home. And when the nanny wrote in her book about the Queen that

during the war, it was a fortress not a home, the Queen really did not

like that at all. Because the fortress is her home. They have

changed the route, they are coming down this particular street now so

that big book and see what is going on. The original plan was to go

another way. But more people can see them this way. It was marvellous

this morning coming in on the train from Paddington, and Paddington was

flooded with people with their flags, ready to wave. And Windsor

has more than played its part today. I could not help thinking earlier,

as we were looking at the town, and the sun was coming through, that if

a Hollywood director were to say to his location scout, I want you to

find me the perfect English town, then they might well choose Windsor.

It doesn't stand up to pretty closer scrutiny. Wonderfully British. A

1000 -year-old castle, built by William the Conqueror. As the Queen

just goes past Boots! And I think she will be turning left at

just goes past Boots! And I think Nero! It is an affirmation.

Countries that do not have a Royal Family, they cannot quite have this

moment. In the United States of America, they have the flag, but

they do not have a person. Well, they do, but that person is a

politician. What we have in this country is a golden thread going

back from this Queen to William the Conqueror. These people in a sense

are cheering themselves as well. They see the Queen and they think,

yes, this is OK. Half the countries on the planet did not exist in their

present form when she came to the throne. It is amazing continuity. We

often hear it in the Queen's Christmas message how much

Commonwealth means to the Queen, but do we have a sense of how much the

Queen means to the Commonwealth? I am not talking about the leaders, I

am talking about the people in the countries, Robert Lacey? Let's not

forget, the Commonwealth I think now has two countries in it which were

never British possessions, they asked to join. Martin Charteris, one

of her private secretaries, once said to me that he actually felt the

Queen was most herself, most the Queen, when she was with

Commonwealth leaders and Commonwealth people. But when she

was with those tribal chieftains, she was more at ease and more

understood that she was with the sometimes chippy politicians in this

country. There is no doubt that when historians look back on her reign,

they will praise her, or mark her, for having kept the monarchy alive,

but the other great creation has been the Commonwealth. There is no

other empire in the world which has said goodbye and stayed on good

terms with its former colonies in the way that Britain has. She

believes in it as well. She is the only person in Britain who could

name every single Commonwealth Prime Minister. It would be her mastermind

specialist subject. She has been to every country, she has been to

Canada 27 times. She has travelled 1.5 million miles around the world.

It has been a lifetime of doing this. The Commonwealth counts to

her. And it has been her creation. She inherited the Armed Forces and

the church and the crown, but the Commonwealth, she has built. It is

very much her work, and she can be very proud of it. I wonder what the

Queen makes of the selfie stick? I know exactly what the Duke of

Edinburgh thinks of the selfie stick! You can keep that to

yourself! As you said, Robert Hartman, going past Cafe Nero! There

are other cafes available! Indeed! Hartman, going past Cafe Nero! There

Thousands of people celebrating with Hartman, going past Cafe Nero! There

the Queen on this very special day, her 90th birthday.

the Queen on this very special day, now. They are observing it. The

Queen of Denmark, who has been a Queen for a long time as well, is in

her 70s and is a friend of them, told me that her father had told her

that to be successful as a monarch, you have got to lean forward, not

lean back. Be interested. Otherwise you will spend a lifetime not being

engaged. These people are engaged in what they are doing. Robert Hartman,

let's look ahead. Here we see the Queen today in her 90th year, in

robust health, smiling as we have ever known her, as the royal

household and the people who plan the Queen's events look forward,

they must surely take into consideration that this is a woman

in her 90s now with a husband who is 95. How are they reshaping it,

making it a possibility for the future? They take one day at a time.

And everything will be done in consultation with the Queen. It is

very much up to her. When there are things which younger members of the

family can take on, like a long haul travel perhaps, the odd investiture,

then that will happen. But the big ticket items are... Don't forget

next month, there will be another State Opening of Parliament, 32,000

people coming for tea at Garden parties in the summer, as usual!

Nothing much changes. Things will change as well when it is sensible.

Like we just saw that vehicle. Recently, a royal party on behalf of

Buckingham Palace went to the Palace of Westminster, because the Queen is

insistent, maybe she will delegate a few investiture is, but the State

Opening of Parliament she will do as long as she can. And they were

working out how they could cut down the number of steps she would have

to take. Small, practical things. Yes, but she wants to be involved in

everything. Her staff and family work to make that possible. What is

curious is that WE spend time, as it were, with the advisers, and they

are often more protective than the Queen and Prince Philip are of

themselves. He is still doing his carriage driving, in his 95th year.

I think the Queen feels that carriage driving, in his 95th year.

show is not over yet, by a long way. We saw the Queen riding the other

show is not over yet, by a long way. day, on her pony, in the park. And

still refusing to wear a hard hat. It is interesting that you say these

things, that the It is interesting that you say these

his carriage riding, because It is interesting that you say these

read that they have been told It is interesting that you say these

give up these things - that is nonsense, is it?! It would be a bold

person to say to them, it is time to give up! Members of the family might

suggest things, but they get pretty shorts strafed. It has been a lovely

morning, full of wonderful pictures here in Windsor. -- pretty short

shrift. Somali has been in the thick of the action on the streets.

shrift. Somali has been in the thick has it been for you, Somali? I with

an eventful 45 minutes. What did the Duke of Edinburgh to?

an eventful 45 minutes. What did the to speak to us and asked us where we

were from. And then he lifted my son over the railings to try and give

our bunch of flowers to the Queen. And at the time she was on the other

side, accepting some gifts from other people.

side, accepting some gifts from really. It was enters moment. What a

lovely memory for the kids. Did he manage to pass on the flowers? He

didn't, unfortunately. He got halfway... And then got the Duke to

do the hard work! It was your idea to bring the family out today - why

are you such a fan of Her Majesty? I think it is a very special day, and

I think Her Majesty has been really a... She has kept the country going,

I think. And I hope she carries on for many more years. It is a very

special day and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I met the family this

morning and I noticed, one-year-old Charlotte, eating cake. I think the

Queen's 90th Birthday is the one day you can eat cake all-day! Enjoy your

cake for lunch! Well, the tea party here has broken

up a little bit, but I am glad to say that Peggy, Ruby and Albert are

still with us. All 90 this year and all met the Queen. Did you manage to

speak to her, Albert, and what did you say? I said, hello, ma'am and

she spoke back. I said to her, I like racing, and you do. I told her

about when I saw her in her uniform when she joined the ATC or ATS or

something. And she was very interested. Lovely, lovely lady. How

about you, did you manage to speak to her? Yes, just briefly. She asked

me if I lived in Windsor. I said I lived in Maidenhead. I said, I was

born a few weeks before you. That was it, because I was the first in

the line. Lovely to see both of you wearing green, very good choice! Did

you manage to speak to her? I did, Chris and I thought she looked

absolutely gorgeous. So much nicer than when you see her run

photographs. She was charming, absolutely. Remarkable woman.

Physically, to have walked all this way and get around and chat? I was

pleased they scoop her up for a lift to get back down! She has been

amazing. It has been quite. Experience, something I shall go

home, sit with a cup of tea and think about - did this really

happen?! All three of you, it has been a pleasure to meet you all.

Rocks tell. I'm sure these memories will stay with you for ever. You are

a very important person now! Things will change, now that you've

met the Queen. Welcoming back Dane Joan Collins. You've been soaking up

the atmosphere. This is one of the most historic moment in my life. I

shall remember this forever. I really hope that I'm going to be

around here for her 100th. Because she will be there. You've made it

clear obviously there are many occasions, unlike most people, where

you have met Her Majesty. I'm talking now just as a citizen of

Great Britain. When you say this is a big day for you, what is it about

it? Well, she is so down to earth and so warm. I hate to use the word

ordinary, but she has this feeling of grandeur, and yet just being like

a real person. It's an amazing characteristic. She has never put a

foot wrong. She has never said anything against all of the things

that go on in the world that one could be opinionated about. And I

think she is a superb example of a monarch, and a great monarch.

Michael, we heard Peggy say she will go home, have a cup of tea and think

about this. I understand you met the Queen for the first time when you

were a very young man? 16, yes. What were the circumstances? I was a

cadet and I was selected because I was a good chap to go out to India

with a couple of cadets and accompanied her and the Duke of

Edinburgh in 1961. One of those experiences, for a young person,

I've got such memories of it. I met her, didn't know what to say, froze,

which you do when you're 16. I was lucky enough to meet her short time

ago because of that horse. I got invited to have lunch with a lot of

other people. The thing that was extraordinary, there was no fear. I

was sitting next to a member of the family, the matriarch of the tribe,

to whom I felt great warmth and respect. And she has this way

gauging people, with me, with the other eight or nine people around

the table, very directly, very personally. I just felt this was an

extraordinary woman. And we are really lucky to have her. It's an

interesting thing, Gyles. When I was talking to you at the beginning of

this morning's celebration, about this element of performance, and it

is something of a stage. You said for the Queen it is not like that,

and that is the intrigue of the dual role she occupies. At once she is

this great figurehead, our head of state, and yet at the same time she

manages to be utterly personal and to give people, for whom it is a

very big deal to be meeting the monarch, a personal moment of her

time. That's tricky to pull off. It is an extraordinary amalgam. Here we

are in the shadow of this extraordinary castle built for

William the Conqueror, epitomising what royalty is for us, why it

appeals, this combination of history, heritage and fairy tale.

Princes, princesses, 1000 years of our island story. And there is the

Queen personifying bad. And yet we know she is a good woman, she has

been with us all our lives, she represents the best of British --

there is the Queen personifying that. Sonali Shah is among the

crowds enjoying the celebrations. These ladies are absolutely beaming.

They are so excited that they have been here for the Queen's birthday.

Donna came all the way from Connecticut. In the States, yes. I

wouldn't have missed this for the world, it was so exciting. It was.

Especially when she recognised you. She wanted to trade grounds but she

didn't have hers with her. You three know each other, you all met at the

Royal wedding, so the royal family brought you together as friends.

Absolutely. It was just such a special occasion. These guys slept

out for three nights and kindly let me join them. We got to know one

another and stayed in touch. When Donna said she was coming over, we

got together. On let me in, you said I was pushing. What is it about the

Queen that makes you smile like this? Where do you start? She's an

inspiration. She's a wonderful person. To be working full-time like

she does at her age. She is adorable. She looks beautiful. How

could you not just want to be here and just celebrate and wish her

happy birthday? Well, it's so lovely to see such beautiful smiles on you

three ladies, lovely to meet you, glad you're having a great day.

Let's go to the Guildhall, Chris Hollins is there and has caught up

with that other lady of the moment, I wonder if the nervousness has

gone? Just wondering if the nerves have gone? I am breathing now! This

is the cake. What did the Queen say to you? She asked me what I've got

inside the cake. She said, what's inside, I was like, orange drizzle.

She said, does it cut? I figure she had a fear that it wouldn't cut or

she had a previous experience. There was one embarrassing moment when she

couldn't get the knife in. It did cut and it is right in front of us.

It went right the way through. I said, yes it cuts, then I was

worried it wouldn't. Disappointed she did not take a party back, but

we are very fortunate to have the cake. So this is orange drizzle. It

works! Well done. You must be so proud. Mouthful of cake... This has

to be one of my proudest moments. It was over really quickly, though. I'm

reliving it now in my head. That actually happened! I met the Queen.

All that sweating and actually happened! I met the Queen.

kitchen, trying to make the right colour and the right cake... That

makes the cake sound inedible. There were times when I was relaxing and

my husband said, were times when I was relaxing and

are making this cake for, you need to get up and get on it. It was

quite process, but how often will I get to do this, so I try to enjoy

every moment. You know what you need to do now, put the kettle on because

we need a cup of tea to go with it. It really did happen, and it was on

the telly! As a historian, can I come to you for the historical

perspective on a day like today. It has been an intimate event in a

small-town Mike Windt, thousands in the streets but not millions. How

important is it that these small events have their significance

within the royal diary and within royal history? I think we'll all

look back on today and we will all remember that we were here. Today is

a very intimate day. This is the real birthday. As a monarch there

are two birthdays, and there is the real one with the big razzmatazz in

the summer and people will remember that as well. But royalty speaks, it

is a very human institution that speaks to our memories. We see it as

our family, and today is a family speaks to our memories. We see it as

occasion and these things matter, it brings everyone together. It is an

interesting thing, in this age, you are somebody who

interesting thing, in this age, you for very many years, and in this age

of constant celebrity, where everybody has their 15 seconds of

of constant celebrity, where fame, in a culture

of constant celebrity, where so used to the disposable nature of

fame, it is something very so used to the disposable nature of

that goes on with our monarchy, and that seems to go on with our

connection to them? I think that is absolutely true for the Queen. I

think that people are able to see through celebrities. That's why some

of them only have their 15 seconds. I think the reason people love her

is that she has been true to herself I think the reason people love her

here, and she has been true to not what she was born to become, but had

to become when her father died. And that is to totally devote herself to

Great Britain, to this country. As she said when she became Queen, she

was determined to devote herself totally to this wonderful country. I

think that's what people see, because she has. And she has never

ever put a foot wrong, not a foot. Michael, let's take a minute, and

there have been quite a few photographs and images, indeed

stamps that have been released to the public. There is the one from

the stamp, now. Little George's smile is almost bigger than his

face. That is a cracking picture, and of course what it embodies is,

in its way, and you are a story writer of so many successful books,

the story of monarchy is in that photograph and in a way it is the

narrative that is one of the most beguiling things. It is the fairy

tale, the narrative. Looking at that family, you know the story of the

family, the nation has been passed from generation to generation and

they are all there. And yes, the thread runs through. If it was just

that, this family, it wouldn't be very interesting. But that thread

runs through us all and we are connected. We might not be

monarchists but that thread is the spiritual heart of our country, and

from that I think we get, not just security, it helps us chart change.

The 70 years I've lived, and she's lived 90, has probably seen more

change in those decades than human history. She helped chart that

unsteady us, that's what's wonderful about her. Beautifully summed up if

I may say so. Thank you to all of my guests and the three of you for