Queen Mother takes 100th birthday salute

In this story: Vantage points Thousands of cards RELATED STORIES, SITES

LONDON (CNN) -- Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Britain's favorite royal, took a 41-gun salute to the cheers of thousands of well-wishers on Friday outside Buckingham Palace in central London in celebration of her 100th birthday.

The salute was fired by the Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Grenadier Guards, from nearby Green Park, as the Queen Mother rode into the Palace in an open-topped carriage.

Wearing a pastel blue dress with matching hat and her trademark pearls, she appeared at the Palace balcony alongside her two daughters Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret, to wave and take the cheers of the crowds.

She was then joined on the balcony by other members of her family including grandson Prince Charles and two of her great-grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

IN DEPTH SPECIAL Britain's Queen Mother turns 100     ALSO Special portrait of Queen Mother unveiled in London     MESSAGE BOARD Queen Mother

Earlier she had received her birthday card from the Queen, which is traditionally sent to every British subject who reaches the landmark birthday, with hers containing an additional personal message. Her equerry, Captain William de Rouet, opened the envelope with his sword.

The handwritten message on the card read: "On your 100th Birthday all the family join with me in sending you our loving best wishes for this special day. Lilibet." The Queen has been known as Lilibet by her close family since childhood.

The Queen Mother took delivery of the card at the gates of her home Clarence House, declining to use the chair provided for her while it was opened. The band of the Irish Guards -- also 100 years old this year -- played Happy Birthday in a ceremony closed to the public but broadcast on television.

Prince Charles then accompanied her in an open carriage, adorned with yellow and blue flowers -- her racing colors -- for a half hour procession to the Palace where she was having a private birthday lunch with 30 members of her family in the Palace's Bow Room.

Early morning rain had given way to bright sunshine for the birthday celebration, for which crowds from all parts of the globe had gathered since daybreak to witness.

Among the first to take a prime vantage point along The Mall leading to the Palace was Clarence Mayberry -- who is just three weeks old.

His parents, Lee and Jennifer, from Texarkana in Texas, had arrived at daybreak to get their special view of the pageantry.

Lee, 31, who wore a tartan kilt for the occasion, said: "It is important for young people to look up to her and her values and the way she treats life in general.

"It is a very important time in Clarence's young life and we hope to be able to show him the significance of it when he is older."

Other early risers taking a premier view point were a group of Girl Guides from Calgary in Canada, who sold 56,000 cookies and recycled ten tons of telephone directories to finance the visit, just to wish the Queen Mother a happy birthday.

Ten girls aged between 13 and 17 and two guide leaders were in position six hours before the noon ceremony.

They became immersed in royal birthday fever when told about the occasion some three years ago and have been planning the trip ever since.

Kristyn Adams, 13, said: "Seeing someone that old in such great condition and in good health is really wonderful. She wasn't only the Queen of England -- she was Queen of Canada too."

The war-time Queen with her young family, including the future Queen Elizabeth II, second from left

Her friend Heather, 14, said: "We came to see the Queen Mother, but we are rather hoping we will also see Prince William and Prince Harry."

Birthday wishes for the Queen Mother have been pouring into Clarence House, reaching the rate of 15,000 to 20,000 cards a day, Post Office officials say.

Birthday celebrations have been spread over several weeks, from a party given by the Queen at Windsor Castle on June 21 to a July 19 pageant and parade in London.

That occasion was marred by a series of bomb threats on London's rail services, which caused serious disruption throughout the capital. Dissident Irish republican groups were suspected.

As a result there was a huge increase in security for Friday's celebrations, and thousands of extra police were on duty outside the Palace and Clarence House.

Pageantry and pomp as the Queen Mother turns 100
Britain's Prince William celebrates 18th birthday

The British Monarchy

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.