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More celebrations for queen at 80Moving televised tribute from son and heir, Prince Charles
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RELATEDQUICKVOTEYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSLONDON, England (CNN) -- Celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday continued Saturday with a special display staged at Buckingham Palace of historic British-built cars. The monarch was enjoying a weekend of public and private events to commemorate the milestone, holding a walkabout the previous day to meet well-wishers then a dinner with close family members. The queen collected dozens of bouquets and cards from some of the 20,000 supporters who traveled to Windsor for the walkabout, and later dined by candlelight at a black-tie party at Kew Palace in south-west London, which featured a spectacular fireworks display. Her son and heir to the throne Prince Charles paid a moving tribute to his mother in a broadcast to the nation on radio and television Friday. He said: "There is no doubt that the world in which my mother grew up and, indeed, the world in which she first became queen, has changed beyond all recognition. "But during all those years she has shown the most remarkable steadfastness and fortitude, always remaining a figure of reassuring calm and dependability -- an example to so many of service, duty and devotion in a world of sometimes bewildering change and disorientation." The display of historic motor vehicles was being inspected by the Duke of Gloucester and of the queen's life. The 1926 car was a "Bullnose" Morris Oxford Tourer while the exhibit for 2006 was a Jaguar XK150. Other vehicles amongst the 80 included an Austin Mini Cooper from 1964, a Jaguar "E" Type Roadster (1961), Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 11 (1977), Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth (1987) and an Aston Martin DB7 V8 Vantage (1994). The queen was to continue her birthday celebrations Saturday night with a private party at Windsor. On Friday, dressed in a cerise-colored outfit with matching hat, the sprightly queen accepted flowers and best wishes from thousands of flag-waving supporters lining the streets of Windsor. She completed and extended 45-minute walkabout accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, before being carried through the streets in her royal Rolls Royce back to the castle. The swell of support for the monarch -- 10 years away from rivaling Queen Victoria's record 64-years on the throne -- has helped revive the fortunes of the British royal family after a turbulent decade. Showing no signs of slowing down, the queen has has ruled out abdication and, according to recent polls, she has nothing to fear from republican calls for the abolition of the monarchy. "We'll be wishing her a very happy birthday," one member of the crowd at Windsor told CNN. "I'm a very loyal subject, I have followed the queen since I was seven years old and that's our way of saying thank you." Some 20,000 birthday cards and 17,000 emails have been sent from around the world to commemorate the event. CNN Correspondent Paula Newton, in Windsor, said Friday's turnout reflected the queen's popularity in spite of recent troubles that have beset the British royals. "These are people who do not just respect and admire this woman -- they adore her." Job for lifeAccording to Countess Mountbatten, a close friend of the queen, the monarch was determined to see her position as monarch through the end, even as her eldest son waits in the wings. "She regards the job as a job for life," she said in a BBC interview. Queen Elizabeth was born in London April 21, 1926, and was crowned queen June 2, 1953, after the death of her father, King George VI.. She was proclaimed queen in February 1952 at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI, and was crowned the following year. Married with four children -- Charles, Anne, Andrew and Edward -- she juggled motherhood and her job as head of state, the armed forces, the Commonwealth and the Church of England. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher professed admiration for the queen in an interview. "The queen takes a tremendous interest in every aspect of life in our country. And she brings to bear a formidable grasp of current issues and a tremendous breath of experience," Thatcher said. "Her guidance and advice are always most acute, and as prime minister I was privileged to benefit from both enormously. She is truly an inspiration and an example to the whole nation. Long may she rule. Happy birthday, ma'am." 
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