Queen Elizabeth II on Happy Birthday tour of the BBC

Apr 20, 2006, 13:21 GMT

London - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, touring the radio headquarters of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as part of her 80th birthday celebrations Thursday, was left dumbfounded by the question why Cuban communist leader Fidel Castro was not among her birthday guests.

The question was put to the queen, who celebrates her 80th birthday Friday, by John Humphrys, presenter of the BBC's flagship radio programme, who is nicknamed the 'inquisitor.'

'I suggested it was a bit mean not to invite Fidel Castro to the palace, because he's 80 as well and she didn't seem to think it was a very good idea', Humphrys reported afterwards.

The queen Wednesday had given a lunch for 99 pensioners who, like her, were born on April 21, 1926. Castro celebrates his 80th birthday on August 13.

The queen's visit to the BBC marked the granting of the royal charter to the broadcasting institution 80 years ago, and also the reopening of the building, Broadcasting House, after extensive renovation.

BBC chiefs and top presenters lined up for the royal tour, presenting the monarch with a digital radio and singing Happy Birthday.

She was also shown the microphone on which her grandfather, George V, made his royal broadcasts.

Later, the queen visited the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a world-renowned think-tank known as Chatham House, which was also granted its royal charter 80 years ago.

It emerged Thursday that the British cabinet was planning to send a 'low-key' birthday present to the queen 'in line with the wishes of Buckingham Palace.' The nature of the present was not revealed.

Asked about reports that each minister had given 30 pounds (53 dollars) for the gift, a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said the cabinet had 'contributed as a whole.'