On 4 August 2000, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother celebrated her 100th birthday. Events took place across the United Kingdom as she became the first member of the British Royal Family to reach the age of 100.
Crowds gather in London
Approximately 40,000 people gathered along The Mall and outside Buckingham Palace, with some well-wishers camping overnight to secure a view.
The Queen Mother travelled from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace in an open Ascot landau with her grandson, the Prince of Wales. The carriage was pulled by four grey horses and decorated with gold and blue flowers representing her racing colours.
A 41-gun royal salute was fired from Green Park as the carriage reached the palace. The large London gathering formed the centrepiece of celebrations and broadcasts taking place around the country.
A royal birthday card
Among the Queen Mother's birthday messages was a personal card from her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, signed with the Queen's childhood name, “Lilibet”. In a characteristically ceremonial moment, an equerry opened the envelope with his sword.
The Queen Mother later appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her daughters, the Queen and Princess Margaret. Other members of the Royal Family joined them as the crowd cheered and military musicians played birthday songs.
A family celebration
Following the public appearance, senior members of the Royal Family attended a private birthday lunch at Buckingham Palace. That evening, the Queen Mother was due to attend a performance at the Royal Opera House with the Queen and Princess Margaret.
The day completed a series of events marking the centenary, including a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral and a pageant involving representatives of organisations and charities associated with the Queen Mother.
A life spanning a century
Born Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on 4 August 1900, she married the Duke of York in 1923. He became King George VI following the abdication of Edward VIII in 1936, making her queen consort.
During the Second World War, the King and Queen remained in Britain and visited communities affected by bombing. Her public role during the conflict became an important part of her lasting reputation.
After George VI died in 1952 and their daughter became Queen, she was known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. She remained a prominent and popular member of the Royal Family for the following five decades.
Why the centenary mattered
The birthday was more than a royal milestone. The Queen Mother's life had extended from the final months of Queen Victoria's reign to the beginning of the new millennium, encompassing two world wars and enormous social and political change.
She died on 30 March 2002 at the age of 101. Her centenary celebrations remain one of the largest public occasions associated with the later years of her life.