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Video: Queen marks official birthday celebration

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    >>> it's good to be the queen. there was more pageantry, pomp and circumstance in london today to celebrate queen elizabeth 's birthday. it seems like there's a never-ending party going on there. nbc's annabel roberts is in london. annabel , good morning.

    >> reporter: good morning, tamron. yes, more celebrations for the queen today, this time to mark her birthday or her official one, at least, and that comes two weeks after four days of celebrations for her diamond jubilee . and the icing on the cake for the queen today, her husband, prince philip , was fit enough to be at her side. the queen rode out of buckingham palace in a carriage with her husband, prince philip , at her side. thousands turned out once again to cheer her. other royals followed, acknowledging the crowds on their way to another colorful and historic spectacle. they watched trooping the color, a military display involving 1,500 soldiers. the queen took the salute, as she has done throughout her reign, in the early days on horseback riding side saddle . this is prince philip 's first official appearance since attending the pageant on the river thames , part of the diamond jubilee celebrations. he spent five days in hospital with a bladder infection, returning home one week ago, just in time for his 91st birthday.

    >> it was significant that prince philip was at the queen's side for the trooping of colors. it was very cheery and uplifting to see him there with the queen, because remember, after all these years together, she just looks slightly lonely without him there.

    >> reporter: she did, though, have william and kate as company as she continued without prince philip , and the public appreciate it. the latest poll find 90% support her.

    >> the monarchy is at the peak in terms of popularity. the queen really is getting what she deserves and i think it's significant, too, that kate, duchess of cambridge, has been at the side of the queen, completing the apprenticeship, if you'd like, as a royal duchess and princess.

    >> reporter: trooping the color dates back 250 years. on a hot day, the standing at attention for hours can get too much. no chance of that this mild morning, a good day for the troops and another great day for the queen. and to mark her birthday, the queen hands out honors in recognition of achievement and actress kate winslet has been made a commander of the british empire . she says she feels extremely proud. looking ahead, on monday, construction workers move in to transform this into the venue for beach volleyball during the olympics. less than five weeks to go, tamron.

    >> annabel , from one big event to the next, a lot of excitement in london. very good times there. thank you

updated 6/16/2012 11:01:53 AM ET 2012-06-16T15:01:53

Prince Philip, the husband of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, made his first major public appearance on Saturday since a hospital stay for a bladder infection, attending the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London.

The Duke of Edinburgh, who turned 91 last Sunday, waved and smiled to cheering crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace as he watched a military fly-past from the balcony of the royal residence alongside the queen and other royal family members.

Wearing a red military jacket with a blue sash and gold epaulettes, he looked alert and in good spirits during the event marking the queen's official birthday.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London
Toby Melville  /  REUTERS
Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Trooping the Colour ceremony on June 16.

His illness had overshadowed the later stages of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations earlier this month marking the 60th year of the queen's reign, forcing him to miss a star-studded pop concert held outside the palace.

Singer Elton John, one of the concert's performers, had joked before going on stage that the prince's illness might have been a ruse: "He hates pop music — anything to get out of a pop concert."

UK's Prince Philip discharged from hospital

Earlier on Saturday the Prince rode with the queen in a glass coach to and from a nearby parade ground where they watched an hour-long tattoo performed by 1,600 soldiers and horse riders in traditional military uniforms.

Other royals attending the military spectacle included Prince Charles, the heir to the throne, and his son and daughter-in-law — Prince William and his wife Kate.

Philip had been taken to hospital after spending hours on a ceremonial barge in driving rain and a cold wind as part of a flotilla of 1,000 vessels on the River Thames, a highlight of the Jubilee festivities.

UK's queen 'touched' by jubilee's 'happy atmosphere'

Royal aides said he was treated with antibiotics and made good progress during his stay in hospital.

The Greek-born former naval officer is known for his gaffes and off-the-cuff comments about groups such as the Chinese, deaf people and Australia's Aborigines.

The longest serving consort in British history has won admirers for his charity work and loyal support to the queen. She has described him as her "strength and stay" and once said she owes him "a debt greater than he would ever claim".

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Photos: Royal weddings

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  1. King Edward VIII

    King Edward VIII, formerly the Prince of Wales, formally abdicated the British throne on Dec. 11, 1936, in order to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite. Edward's younger brother became King George VI. In June 3, 1937 Edward and Wallis Simpson married in a secluded Chateau de Cande in the Loire Valley in France. (Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  2. Princess Elizabeth

    Westminster Abbey was the scene of the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on Nov. 20, 1947. They first met at the wedding of Prince Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece, to The Duke of Kent, who was an uncle of Princess Elizabeth, in 1934. (Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  3. Princess Margaret

    The Queen's sister, Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Earl of Snowdon) were married on May 6, 1960. She was divorced from him in 1978. (Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  4. Princess Anne

    Princess Anne, the queen's only daughter and the younger sister of heir-to-the-throne Charles, married Captain Mark Phillips in 1973. The couple had two children, Peter, the queen's first grandchild, in 1977 and Zara in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  5. Prince Charles

    St. Paul's Cathedral was the venue for the glamorous wedding of Prince Charles to 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer which relieved the gloom of economic recession. Diana became one of the most high-profile royals and gave the institution some glamour. The mood was one of national rejoicing. But the union was ill-starred, and the marriage eventually collapsed amid mutual accusations of adultery (Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  6. Prince Andrew

    Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson first met each other as children beside the polo field. Sarah's father was a polo manager for Prince Charles. Prince Andrew and Sarah were married in Westminster Abbey on July 23, 1986. The couple had two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. In May 1996 the Duke and Duchess of York divorced, but they have continued to share custody of their daughters. (Tim Graham / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  7. Prince Edward

    Prince Edward, the Queen's youngest son is the only one of her children who has not divorced. He married public relations executive Sophie Rhys-Jones and they became the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Their first baby, named Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor was born in January 2004, and their son James, Viscount Severn, was born in December 2007. (Tim Graham / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  8. Prince Charles

    The marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales to Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles was dedicated in St. George's Chapel following a civil ceremony in Windsor's Guildhall on April 9. (Georges Dekeerle / Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
  9. Peter Phillips

    Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandchild, married Autumn Kelly on May 17, 2008, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Autumn caught Peter's eye during the 2003 Montreal Grand Prix where he was working for the Williams Formula One team. In December 2010, the couple had a daughter, the Queen's first great grandchild. (Shaun Curry / AFP - Getty Images) Back to slideshow navigation
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  1. Image: Duke Weds
    Getty Images
    Above: Slideshow (9) A history of British royal weddings - Royal weddings
  2. Mario Testino / Art Partner
    Slideshow (27) A history of British royal weddings - Royal courtship
  3. Image: Queen Elizabeth II and Members Of The Royal Family Attend The Order Of The Garter Service
    Murray Sanders / WPA Pool via Getty Images
    Slideshow (64) A history of British royal weddings - Prince William
  4. Image: Official wedding picture
    Hugo Burnand / Clarence House via AP
    Slideshow (30) A history of British royal weddings - Kate Middleton
  5. Image: Diamond Jubilee - Carriage Procession And Balcony Appearance
    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
    Slideshow (71) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee - Diamond Jubilee
  6. Image: Marcus Adams Exhibition Opens at The Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh
    The Royal Collection via EPA
    Slideshow (32) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee - Life of a Queen
  1. Every Inch A Princess
    Getty Images
    Slideshow (53) Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee - Royal style

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