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Special Event

Britain Celebrates Queen Mother's 100th Birthday

Aired July 19, 2000 - 1:07 p.m. ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: We are going to take a fun moment now to honor the Queen Mum with everyone else. Her birthday is not until August 4, but it is such a big milestone and she has so many well- wishers, celebrations have started early in London.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: That's right. As you can see by our live pictures, thousands of people turned out in London for an elaborate pageant marking the 100th birthday of Britain's Queen Mother Elizabeth.

ALLEN: The idiosyncrasies of royal protocol dictated that Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, be absent, allowing the Queen Mum to take the royal salute.

What you're looking at right now is a varied cavalcade intended to reflect the 100 years of the queen's life.

There she is, pretty in pink, and we're going to listen in for a few moments.

(APPLAUSE)

We should mention this popular Queen Mum walked up to the stage by herself with just the assistance of a walking stick and insisted on standing to take the salute of hundreds of troops marching past.

(MUSIC)

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We welcome over 350 members of the Chicken Shed Theatre Company who will now perform "100 Years," which has been especially commissioned to mark the Queen Mother's 100th birthday.

(APPLAUSE)

(MUSIC)

(APPLAUSE)

PHILLIPS: That was a performance by the Chicken Shed Children's Theatre Company, not only singing for Queen Mum but also signing the song in sign language.

(MUSIC)

(CHOIR SINGING "100 YEARS")

(APPLAUSE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was a special birthday song for the tribute composed by Barry Hingley and entitled "100 Years."

And now coming into the arena in the Silver Ghost is Sir John Mills who would like to say a few words.

(APPLAUSE)

SIR JOHN MILLS, ACTOR: Your majesty, 10 years ago you expressed the wish that for your 90th birthday there would be no fuss. On that occasion, I'm afraid we didn't altogether obey you. So for this even more special birthday, we planned to invite only those who were determined to be present to express their love and their loyalty. Unfortunately, ma'am, as you may have noticed, there were rather a lot of them.

So here we are all again, dear ma'am, to say thank you for everything you have meant to the people of this nation and the commonwealth, for your lifetime of care, lifetime of care, hardship and inspiration to those who are here now and to those who have gone before, and on their behalf, to wish you with all our love a very, very happy birthday.

Oh, and to offer you this small and very understated birthday cake. Happy birthday, ma'am.

(APPLAUSE)

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your Majesty, now I present you with your last gift of the day, a big card signed by everyone at the parade.

(APPLAUSE)

QUEEN MOTHER ELIZABETH, BRITAIN: Thank you. That will be very precious. Thank you for all of this. Thank you. Thank for -- thank you for your presence. Thank you very much.

I would just like to say a heartfelt thank you to all those who have come from far and near to take part in this lovely brigade. It's been a great joy to me, and the marchers, the children, my regiments, especially the music, excellent musicians have been a wonderful joy to hear.

I do hope you've all enjoyed it as much as I have. It's been a wonderful evening, and I will just say God bless you all and thank you.

(APPLAUSE)

ALLEN: Now that is a birthday party, wow!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turn. Remove headdress. Turn. Three cheers for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Hip hip...

CROWD: Hooray!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hip hip...

CROWD: Horray!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Replace headdress. Replace headdress. Turn. Stop. Arms. Salute. Present arms.

(MUSIC)

ALLEN: A wave good-bye from the Queen Mum after such a fitting tribute to this very popular woman, 7000 people attending this parade for her 100th birthday celebration. She officially turns 100 the 4th of August.

(APPLAUSE)

ALLEN: One of the many thousands who lined the parade route said nothing would stop us from getting here. To quote here, "I think the Queen Mother is the greatest old lady in the land. She's done more for the royal family than all the others put together."

PHILLIPS: You know, I was reading it was during World War II that the queen and her husband really forged a permanent relationship with the British public. They had been experiencing a lot of loss and deprivation, but they remained deeply loyal and loyal to her, even after her husband passed. It is obviously, with all the people that turned out, and it took two years to plan this birthday party. Can you imagine? two years?

(APPLAUSE)

ALLEN: She is accompanied by her grandson, Prince Charles. Again, as we mentioned, royal protocol dictating that the Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip are absent, allowing the Queen Mum the honor to take the royal salute this afternoon. And what a salute it has been. And off she goes.

PHILLIPS: She still enjoys horseback riding and fishing too, we're told.

(MUSIC)

ALLEN: And again, as she makes her way out, we heard the actor, Sir John Mills, apologize for the big celebration.

PHILLIPS: Fanfare.

ALLEN: She had asked for something small. He said, 10 years ago, when she turned 90, they could not deliver big doings then, and big doings now for the Queen Mum. (APPLAUSE)

ALLEN: She was born the Honorable Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon on August 4, 1900. What a splendid 100 years it has been for her. Happy birthday from all of us.

PHILLIPS: And the thousands of people that turned out to wish her well. Once again, the 100th birthday of Britain's Queen Mother Elizabeth live from London.

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