Cameron to lead tributes as Britain marks Queen’s official birthday

A weekend of celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday was set to kick off on Friday as the official festivities for her 90th birthday begin with a service in London’s St Paul’s Cathedral.
Prime Minister David Cameron is scheduled to lead the tributes.
Britain’s longest-serving monarch, who celebrated her real birthday on April 21, was expected to attend the ceremony with her husband, Prince Philip, who turned 95 on Friday, and other members of the royal family.
However, more events were planned during the weekend, including a street party for some 10,000 people on Sunday near Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s London residence.
The Queen, who was born in 1926, has ruled since 1952, when she was 25 years old.
In September, she surpassed the six-decade reign of Queen Victoria, her great-great grandmother, who sat on the throne from 1837 to 1901.
Report says some royal watchers said Queen Elizabeth’s enduring popularity comes partly from her success in avoiding public controversy.
Britain’s system of constitutional monarchy keeps the queen as a largely ceremonial head of state, allowing the government to pass legislation and run the country.