One can’t believe you’re 80!
THE Queen spoke lovingly of her husband yesterday as Prince Philip celebrated his birthday.
‘I can’t believe you’re 80!’ she declared at a champagne reception at Windsor Castle. ‘I speak for all the family and everyone here, thank you from us all.’
surrounded by the Royal Family and Philip’s German relatives, the guests responded with three rousing cheers.
After weeks of public celebrations, including a concert at the Royal Albert Hall starring shirley Bassey, yesterday’s party was a chance for Philip to reflect on his life with those closest to him.
Problems such as the reported rift with Prince Charles were put aside for the largest gathering of royalty since Prince Edward’s wedding two years ago.
‘I’m not sure that I recommend being 80,’ Philip confessed. ‘It’s not so much the age, but trying to survive these celebrations.’
Last week at a Guildhall lunch in his honour, he suggested that years of responding to loyal toasts had added to his longevity.
It was a theme picked up on by the Queen. ‘It is of great interest to me to propose another toast to your long life,’ she said.
There was also a loving tribute from his sister-in-law, Princess Margaret. Despite still suffering the aftermath of a series of debilitating strokes, she managed to arrange a dazzling surprise for the Duke.
On her instructions, 20 male dancers in white naval uniforms from the Royal Ballet school danced the hornpipe for Philip. Then, armed with flags, they signalled Happy Birthday in semaphore to the former Royal Navy Lieutenant Commander.
Earlier, at a thanksgiving service at st George’s Chapel, the Dean of Windsor, the Rt Rev David Connor, singled out Philip’s ‘loyalty, encouragement, inspiration, example and sheer stickability’. He paid tribute to Philip’s self- effacing manner, saying: ‘ He will not want any fuss.’
He explained the Prince’s gift for understatement, saying he had been told Philip might come to church on his birthday with ‘just a few friends’.
In fact, 500 lined the pews. Hand-picked by Philip, the guest list demonstrated his own loyalties, too. There were old friends, of course. But dozens more came from the domestic staff, past and present, who have looked after him over the years. As the Mail previously revealed, the guests should have included Princess Diana’s former butler Paul Burrell, whose wife Maria was once Philip’s housemaid. But Mr Burrell was ‘disinvited’ earlier in the week.
On bail pending police inquiries into items missing from Diana’s apartment, it was feared that his presence would be inappropriate.
Few among the immediate Royal Family were away from yesterday’s celebrations, apart from Prince William who is still in Africa on his gap year.
Among Philip’s family of nephews and nieces was Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
she arrived with Prince Harry, easily the tallest royal on display. On a blustery and cool day most walked to church from the castle. Only Philip, the Queen and the Queen Mother arrived by car.
Monday, June 11, 2001