Britain's Queen Elizabeth II turns 82

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Britain's Queen Elizabeth II quietly celebrated her 82nd birthday Monday, amid a stirring of republican sentiment in Australia and proposals at home for reforming the monarchy.

The queen was to mark the occasion with a quiet dinner at Windsor Castle, west of London, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.

Queen Elizabeth is head of state in 16 Commonwealth countries, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica.

Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Sunday he thought a split from the British monarchy was "inevitable", but added that it was unlikely to happen while the queen remained on the throne because of her personal popularity.

The issue of a republic was a key item emerging from a two-day 2020 summit in Canberra -- a...