The Queen tonight paid warm tribute to her son as she toasted Prince Charles’s 70th birthday.
Speaking at a private family party at Buckingham Palace, the monarch spoke of what a ‘privilege’ it was for her, as a mother, to honour him on such a momentous occasion.
She described the Prince of Wales as a ‘dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history — and a wonderful father’.
The Queen (right) tonight paid warm tribute to the Prince of Wales (left, earlier today during his celebrations) as he marks his 70th birthday
Charles and Camilla are pictured arriving at Buckingham Palace for his 70th birthday celebrations which are continuing into the night
Significantly, she also gave his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, the highest seal of approval, referring to Camilla by name as the woman who ‘sustains’ him.
And in a humorous aside she referred to her eldest son as a ‘duchy original’ – a reference to the organic food line he set up in 1990.
Raising a glass at the black tie dinner, the Queen said: ‘It is a privilege for any mother to be able to propose a toast to her son on his 70th birthday.
‘It means that you have lived long enough to see your child grow up. It is rather like —to use an analogy I am certain will find favour — planting a tree and being able to watch it grow.
‘My mother saw me turn 70, of course. And she was heard to observe that 70 is exactly the age when the number of candles on your cake finally exceeds the amount of breath you have to blow them out.
‘Over his 70 years, Philip and I have seen Charles become a champion of conservation and the arts, a great charitable leader — a dedicated and respected heir to the throne to stand comparison with any in history — and a wonderful father.
‘Most of all, sustained by his wife Camilla, he is his own man, passionate and creative.
‘So this toast is to wish a happy birthday to my son, in every respect a duchy original. To you Charles. To the Prince of Wales.’
Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex are pictured arriving at Buckingham Palace this evening for the celebrations
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were among a host of Royals who turned out to celebrate the birthday
The Queen’s speech came after the Prince of Wales was praised as a ‘prophet’ by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the House of Lords.
Deputy leader of the house, Earl Howe, was a;s moved what is known as the humble address to mark the royal birthday.
The Tory frontbencher said the prince had ‘set an extraordinary example of hard work and stamina in the cause of public service’.
As the Prince of Wales marks his latest milestone tonight with his family, here is the full text of the Queen’s speech about her heir to the throne.