Royal Watch News
Queen Elizabeth takes to the stage to mark her 80th birthday
Mar 20, 2006, 16:23 GMT
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is to play herself in a theatrical production to mark her 80th birthday.
The royal has agreed to appear alongside a cast of children's favourites, including Harry Potter and Thomas the Tank Engine in a 90-minute televised show.
The audience for the £1.5 million programme will include 2000 children - who have been invited to Buckingham Palace - as well as millions more at home. The British Broadcast Corporation (BBC) - who will air the performance live - have played down the queen's part, insisting she will only appear at the end to meet the characters. The story will revolve around a tea party at the palace, and will feature well-know characters from children's literature. It has not yet been decided which characters will be used but Winnie The Pooh, Paddington Bear, Noddy, Peter Pan and characters from The Jungle Book are in the running. Children's author David Wood and TV executive Peter Orton say they are close to finishing the script. Mr Orton - whose company owns the rights to Thomas The Tank Engine - is quoted in Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper as saying: 'It will be a wonderful celebration. The queen is a huge credit to this country.'Copyright 2006 BANG Media International
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