QUEEN ELIZABETH admitted she was "deeply touched" by the "support and kindness" shown by the public following the death of her husband Prince Philip, as she marked her 95th birthday today.
The British monarch, who has been on the throne for 69 years, said the tributes had been a comfort in a "period of deep sadness".
Her birthday, which comes just four days after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, is being marked in a low-key, private way in Windsor Castle today.
The Queen, seated alone, watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of Prince Philip, Duke Of Edinburgh into St George’s ChapelShe normally spends her birthday with her family and there is usually a 41-gun salute in Hyde Park, a 21-gun salute in Windsor Great Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.
But there will be no public celebrations as the Queen continues to observe two weeks of mourning until Friday, but she thanked the public in a spirited messages via the Royal Family's Twitter account.
Elizabeth's lengthy reign has seen her travel to all corners of the globe, usually with Philip by her side, and former Ireland president Mary McAleese revealed that the Queen's state visit to Ireland in 2011 was in fact her favourite.
Just a month after Prince William and Kate Middleton got married, Elizabeth and Philip spent three days in Dublin and Kildare before travelling to Co. Tipperary and Cork city, marking an historic visit.
After travelling to the English Market, the Queen decided to stroll along the Grand Parade, where she mingled with members of the public in the street. It was a visit she enjoyed greatly.
GettyMcAleese told last year that Elizabeth described it as the "very best ever state visit" she had been on.
"She took off from Cork Airport after four amazing days," McAleese said.
"The minute her plane touched down her deputy private secretary rang us immediately to say that she had said on the plane that it was her very best ever state visit. She was delighted, she was so happy."
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