Queen Elizabeth's fact list

Apr 10, 2006, 14:34 GMT

Britain's Queen Elizabeth once sent a message to the moon and has been given eggs for her birthday.

These are just two of 80 facts about the monarch Buckingham Palace has released to celebrate her 80th birthday, which is on April 21.

The list also shows the queen has launched 23 ships, sat for 139 official portraits and owned more than 30 of her beloved corgis.

One of the most surprising revelations is that she is the first royal to be awarded a gold disc.

EMI's CD 'Party At The Palace', which was recorded at a concert in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, sold more that 100,000 copies in its first week.

One of the strangest pieces of information is that the queen owns all the sturgeons, whales and dolphins in UK waters.

The list is just one of a host of events to celebrate the milestone birthday.

The monarch has also invited 100 octogenarians to join her for a special lunch at Buckingham Palace.

The queen and her husband Prince Philip chose the lucky pensioners - who will dine at the monarch's state apartments - by drawing names out of a hat.

Britain's Royal Mint has also launched a new £5 to commemorate the royal's birthday.

The coin features the famous portrait of the queen by Ian Rank-Broadley - which has appeared on British currency for the last eight years - and the flip side sports ceremonial trumpets and banners as a salute to the monarch.

Later this year the monarch is set to play herself in a one-off theatrical production alongside a cast of children's favourites, including Harry Potter and Thomas the Tank Engine.

More than 2,000 children will go to Buckingham Palace to see the show, which will also be aired on television.

Copyright 2006 BANG Media International