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Queen Elizabeth turns 83

(China daily)
Updated: 2009-04-22 09:02

Queen Elizabeth II marked her 83rd birthday at Windsor Castle Tuesday, but she didn't have the day off work, Buckingham Palace said.

The queen's London office said the monarch had nothing special planned or any public engagements scheduled, but she would go through the stack of official papers she receives as head of state. She has long done that every day of the year, except Christmas.

"As always, the queen will be working," her spokesman said on condition of anonymity, in line with palace policy.

The queen's birthday is celebrated twice a year - once privately, on her actual birthday, and again with an official national celebration in June.

Marked by a parade and a military ceremony known as "Trooping the Color", the celebration this year falls on June 13.