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Eightieth Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen

First, my congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker, on your return. On behalf of many Members who cannot be in the Chamber as they have other parliamentary duties, I offer my sincere good wishes and congratulations to Her Majesty on her 80th birthday. I congratulate her on her generosity in choosing to share the day with others of her subjects who are also 80 on that day and who are at the palace with her at the moment. Throughout Her Majesty’s long reign, she has meticulously observed the important boundaries between the hereditary monarchy and the rights and powers of the elected House of Commons. We thank her and congratulate her on that. We wish her well. May she long continue in her role.