Queen Elizabeth celebrates accession day

Britain's Queen Elizabeth celebrated her accession day yesterday (06.02.11) with a church service to mark her 59 years on the throne.

The monarch was greeted by 200 well wishers as she arrived at Norfolk's St. Peter and St. Paul Church in West Newton to celebrate almost six decades as head of state.

Following the service, with husband Prince Philip by her side, the queen stopped to chat with royal fans in the crowd and looked "thrilled" as she was presented with flowers by children.

An onlooker said: "The queen was greeted with a line of children handing her beautiful bouquets of flowers. She was dressed in a smart purple dress suit and looked thrilled to have so many well-wishers turn out to see her on accession day."

The royal couple spend most weekends at their nearby Sandringham residence together.

Although she took to the throne on February 6 1952, the queen was crowned at a coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953.

Royal gun salutes will be fired at noon today (07.02.11) because accession day fell on a Sunday.