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| Queen's 90th birthday: Prince William pays tribute | Queen's 90th birthday: Prince William pays tribute |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Prince William has answered criticism of his commitment to royal duties, saying he is willing to take on more responsibility when the time comes. | Prince William has answered criticism of his commitment to royal duties, saying he is willing to take on more responsibility when the time comes. |
| He was speaking in a BBC interview in which he paid tribute to the Queen on the eve of her 90th birthday. | He was speaking in a BBC interview in which he paid tribute to the Queen on the eve of her 90th birthday. |
| She had been a "guiding example" of what a good monarch should be, he said. | She had been a "guiding example" of what a good monarch should be, he said. |
| Meanwhile, a picture of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince George, for stamps to mark the monarch's birthday, has been released. | Meanwhile, a picture of the Queen, the Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince George, for stamps to mark the monarch's birthday, has been released. |
| The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, has also met staff and viewed an exhibition at Windsor's Royal Mail delivery office, in the first of a series of events to mark her birthday on Thursday. | The Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, has also met staff and viewed an exhibition at Windsor's Royal Mail delivery office, in the first of a series of events to mark her birthday on Thursday. |
| Her visit marks the 500th anniversary of the postal service and she was welcomed with singing from the Royal Mail choir. | Her visit marks the 500th anniversary of the postal service and she was welcomed with singing from the Royal Mail choir. |
| The royals then headed to Alexandra Gardens in the town for a ceremony to officially open a new bandstand and met pupils from the six schools involved in its decoration. The children also sang Happy Birthday. | The royals then headed to Alexandra Gardens in the town for a ceremony to officially open a new bandstand and met pupils from the six schools involved in its decoration. The children also sang Happy Birthday. |
| Live coverage of the Queen's birthday events | Live coverage of the Queen's birthday events |
| Prince William told BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell: "I think the Queen's duty and her service, her tolerance, her commitment to others - I think that's all been incredibly important to me and it's been a real guiding example of just what a good monarch could be. | Prince William told BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell: "I think the Queen's duty and her service, her tolerance, her commitment to others - I think that's all been incredibly important to me and it's been a real guiding example of just what a good monarch could be. |
| "And it's been incredibly insightful for me growing up, watching her leadership in that role. | "And it's been incredibly insightful for me growing up, watching her leadership in that role. |
| "I think it's important to grow into a role with the right characteristics and the right qualities, and I think she's exemplified that in everything she's done." | "I think it's important to grow into a role with the right characteristics and the right qualities, and I think she's exemplified that in everything she's done." |
| The prince's own commitment to royal duty has been questioned in some quarters in recent months - there have been headlines in some newspapers which have referred to him as "workshy William". | The prince's own commitment to royal duty has been questioned in some quarters in recent months - there have been headlines in some newspapers which have referred to him as "workshy William". |
| He said he did not ignore such criticisms but did not take them completely to heart. | He said he did not ignore such criticisms but did not take them completely to heart. |
| "I take duty very seriously. I take my responsibilities very seriously. But it's about finding your own way at the right time and if you're not careful duty can sort of weigh you down an awful lot at a very early age and I think you've got to develop into the duty role," he said. | "I take duty very seriously. I take my responsibilities very seriously. But it's about finding your own way at the right time and if you're not careful duty can sort of weigh you down an awful lot at a very early age and I think you've got to develop into the duty role," he said. |
| William emphasised the importance he attached to his role as an air ambulance pilot and to the time he spent with his family. | William emphasised the importance he attached to his role as an air ambulance pilot and to the time he spent with his family. |
| He said both his father and grandmother fully supported the fact that he was not yet fully engaged with royal duties, but that when the time came to accept more responsibilities he would be the first person to put up his hand and take them on. | He said both his father and grandmother fully supported the fact that he was not yet fully engaged with royal duties, but that when the time came to accept more responsibilities he would be the first person to put up his hand and take them on. |
| 'I don't lie awake waiting to be king'- full Prince William interview | 'I don't lie awake waiting to be king'- full Prince William interview |
| At the scene | |
| Alex Morrison, BBC News | |
| "The actual Queen?" | |
| Those were the words on the lips of many Windsor tourists on learning that the Queen had two engagements in the town today. | |
| Many were excited. Two of the visitors had watched hours of coverage from their home in the US and said it would be "great" to see her in person. | |
| And they soon joined the crowds jostling to see the UK's longest-reigning monarch. | |
| Getting a good view became serious business, especially for parents whose children could not see. | |
| "When the Queen gets here I'll lift you up. Is that a deal?", one mum told her toddler - more than an hour before the scheduled arrival. | |
| But in the end everyone seemed satisfied with a brief glimpse. | |
| In the words of one teenage girl as the royal car passed almost within touching distance: "Oh my God I can't believe it. She's so close." | |
| Queen's 90th: What's happening and when? | Queen's 90th: What's happening and when? |
| Full details of Queen's birthday celebrations | Full details of Queen's birthday celebrations |
| In pictures: Queen at 90 in 90 images | In pictures: Queen at 90 in 90 images |
| BBC - iWonder - Queen Elizabeth II- Britain’s longest reigning monarch | BBC - iWonder - Queen Elizabeth II- Britain’s longest reigning monarch |
| Special report: Queen at 90 | Special report: Queen at 90 |
| Ten special stamps have been released to celebrate the Queen's birthday, including a stamp sheet featuring four generations of the Royal Family. | Ten special stamps have been released to celebrate the Queen's birthday, including a stamp sheet featuring four generations of the Royal Family. |
| The picture of the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George was taken in Buckingham Palace last year. | The picture of the Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George was taken in Buckingham Palace last year. |
| George, making his first appearance on a Royal Mail stamp, had to stand on four foam blocks bound together with tape so his head was at roughly the same height as the seated royals. | George, making his first appearance on a Royal Mail stamp, had to stand on four foam blocks bound together with tape so his head was at roughly the same height as the seated royals. |
| Six further stamps have been released for the head of state's 90th birthday, three focusing on the Queen's family life and three honouring her official role. | Six further stamps have been released for the head of state's 90th birthday, three focusing on the Queen's family life and three honouring her official role. |
| On her actual birthday on Thursday, the Queen and Prince Philip will undertake a walkabout in Windsor and unveil a plaque marking The Queen's Walkway, a 6.3km self-guided walking trail connecting 63 points of significance in Windsor. | On her actual birthday on Thursday, the Queen and Prince Philip will undertake a walkabout in Windsor and unveil a plaque marking The Queen's Walkway, a 6.3km self-guided walking trail connecting 63 points of significance in Windsor. |
| It was designed to recognise the moment the monarch broke the record on 9 September 2015 held by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria by being on the throne for 63 years and seven months. | It was designed to recognise the moment the monarch broke the record on 9 September 2015 held by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria by being on the throne for 63 years and seven months. |
| In the evening, the Queen with Prince Philip, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, will light the principal beacon setting in train a series of more than 900 beacons across the UK and around the world to mark the milestone birthday. | In the evening, the Queen with Prince Philip, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, will light the principal beacon setting in train a series of more than 900 beacons across the UK and around the world to mark the milestone birthday. |
| On Friday, US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be joining the Queen for lunch at Windsor Castle. | On Friday, US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be joining the Queen for lunch at Windsor Castle. |
| Britain's longest-serving monarch celebrates two birthdays each year, her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June. | Britain's longest-serving monarch celebrates two birthdays each year, her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on a Saturday in June. |
| Official celebrations to mark sovereigns' birthdays have often been held on another day, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer. | Official celebrations to mark sovereigns' birthdays have often been held on another day, particularly when the actual birthday has not been in the summer. |
| Republic said the Queen's birthday "does not warrant this kind of coverage" and that the BBC had a "duty to report, not to celebrate the royals". | Republic said the Queen's birthday "does not warrant this kind of coverage" and that the BBC had a "duty to report, not to celebrate the royals". |
| Graham Smith, the republican pressure group's CEO, added that the BBC had "failed completely" to report the birthday in a way that was "fair, balanced and proportionate". | Graham Smith, the republican pressure group's CEO, added that the BBC had "failed completely" to report the birthday in a way that was "fair, balanced and proportionate". |
| Queen Elizabeth II at 90 | Queen Elizabeth II at 90 |
| Find out more about Queen Elizabeth II on BBC iWonder | Find out more about Queen Elizabeth II on BBC iWonder |