Queen quotes Marx brothers in 80th birthday speech

By Anna Tomforde Jun 15, 2006, 15:09 GMT

London - Britain's Queen Elizabeth, during official celebrations marking her 80th birthday, on Thursday quoted the wit of Groucho Marx when she said: 'Anyone can get old - all you have to do is to live long enough.'

The queen, who turned 80 on April 21, made the light-hearted remark at a celebratory lunch at Mansion House in the City of London, where Prime Minister Tony Blair, church leaders, military men and members of the royal family were among the 300 guests.

The official birthday celebrations for the queen traditionally take place in June, and reach a climax with the Trooping of the Colour Parade in London Saturday.

'As one gets older, birthdays seem to come round quicker,' said the queen, adding that she was daily counting her blessings.

There were, however, 'many other anniversaries this year' which were more deserving than her 80th birthday, the monarch added, naming the 30th anniversary of the Prince's Trust, a charity for the young run by Prince Charles, as one of them.

Blair, the 10th Prime Minister to serve during the queen's 54-year reign, praised her 'great judgement, wisdom and knowledge,' which had 'on many occasions been invaluable' to him.

'I have seen the respect in which you are held the world over, notably in the Commonwealth, to which you have consciously devoted so much energy,' Blair said.

'Duty is what marks you out, ma'am,' the Labour prime minister remarked.

'Today we celebrate not just a birthday but a lifetime of service to our country,' he added.

Blair also praised the queen for winning the loyalty of the younger generation, 'not out of sense of deference but true affection.'

Earlier Thursday, more than 2,000 people took part in a thanksgiving service for the queen in St Paul's Cathedral, attended among others by Blair and ex-prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

The queen, in a gold-coloured suit and matching hat, smiled as Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams wished her 'many more happy years' in his sermon.

On a cool but sunny summer's day, the queen was joined by 34 members of the royal family, including princes William and Harry, the sons of Prince Charles.

Singers Dame Shirley Bassey, Cliff Richard, Eric Clapton and racing driver Jackie Stewart were among the invited guests.

Williams said that, as a monarch, the queen had shared the vulnerability of ordinary people, and become the 'human symbol that helps to hold us together.'

In Britain, the monarchy had developed 'as a way of keeping power human,' said the archbishop.

'Indeed, the queen is a human face, well known and studied in each and every one of her 80 years,' he added.