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Queen Elizabeth II gets royal greeting on 90th birthday

Queen Elizabeth is normally a stay-at-home birthday girl
Queen Elizabeth celebrates 90th birthday 02:17

LONDON -- A first today for Queen Elizabeth II -- she became the first British monarch to turn 90.

The Queen is normally a stay-at-home birthday-girl, which is no hardship when your home is Windsor Castle.

But when it's the big 9-0, and you're the oldest and longest-reigning monarch ever, it calls for a public appearance.

And there was quite the crowd to wish her a happy birthday.

An Elvis number provided the sound track for a visit to a Post Office.

Elvis may be the king of Rock 'n' Roll, but this monarchy has definitely not left the building.

Three kings in waiting show the royal line is secure, and, because of this reign, says Prince William, well trained.

"It's been a real guiding example of just what a good monarch could be," he said.

For a good monarch, the first requirement is to be seen. And if 90-year-old legs will only carry one so far, 94-year-old legs on Prince Phillip, then enter the Queenmobile, perhaps her most welcome birthday present.

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth is driven through Windsor in an open top Range Rover with Prince Philip on her 90th Birthday, in Windsor, Britain April 21, 2016. REUTERS/John Stillwell/Pool

Ninety years old, and 64 of them as Queen.

But there are two Queens, the official, dutiful one, and the private one.

And few understand both queens better than Margaret Rhodes, who's been a friend since childhood.

"I call her by her childhood name, she's Lilibet," said Rhodes.

And Lillibet knows she's there to provide one thing above all -- continuity.

How Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her 90th birthday 03:11

"The fact that we have prime ministers by the dozen, but we have the Queen who is always there you know?" she said. "Does all the things that she's proud to do like putting on a crown and opening parliament. but at the same time she likes to take her dogs for a walk, talks to the ponies, and pull out weeds she sees...she's a mixture."

Elizabeth at 90, that's how she rolls.

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