The Queen has marked her Golden Wedding anniversary with a promise to listen to public opinion and adapt the monarchy for the future.

In a speech to mark the occasion, she said the hereditary monarchy, like the Government, existed only with the support and consent of the people.

She was speaking at a banquet hosted by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair - a gathering dubbed a "people's banquet" because so many "ordinary people" were invited as guests. Turning to Mr Blair she said it often fell to the Prime Minister to be the bearer of "the messages sent from people to Sovereign".

The Queen said: "Prime Minister, I know that you, like your predecessors, will always pass such messages, as you read them, without fear or favour. I shall value that, and am grateful for your assurances of the loyalty and support of your Government in years to come."

Prince Philip: Queen's "strength and stay"

She said that, despite the huge constitutional difference between a hereditary monarchy and an elected government, in reality the gulf was not so wide.

"They are complementary institutions, each with its own role to play, and each in its different way exists only with the support and consent of the people," said the Queen.

In the speech the Queen paid tribute to her husband. "He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments but he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I, and his whole family, and this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim, or we shall ever know," she said.

Memories of 50 years

The Queen also looked back over her 50 years of marriage and the changes the "remarkable" half century had brought. She said: "Think what we would have missed if we had never heard the Beatles, or seen Margot Fonteyn dance; never have watched television, used a mobile phone or surfed the net - or, to be honest, listened to other people talking about surfing the net."

During the banquet the Queen sat at a table with Mr Blair, and the Duke of Edinburgh with Cherie Blair - each joined by people chosen to represent the nation. In his speech, Mr Blair gave a personal tribute to the Queen, calling her "unstuffy, unfussy and unfazed by anything".

He said her family had been through some testing times, especially this year with the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, but had come through stronger than ever.

His speech was warmly applauded by the guests who included jockey Walter Swinburn and other sporting celebrities, several politicians including four former prime ministers, and many people unknown to the world at large. In this category there were guide leaders, police officers, farmers, car workers and nurses.

Westminster Abbey was full to bursting

The banquet came after the Queen and Prince Philip had attended a thanksgiving service at Westminster Abbey, exactly 50 years after they married there.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr George Carey, remembered that their wedding had been a symbol of better things to come after the darkness of the war.

The Queen Mother and Prince Charles lead other family members into the Abbey

Dr Carey said that the Queen had had to shoulder a heavy burden over the years but had done so - with her husband's support - with "distinction, courage, sacrifice and tolerance."

After the service the Royal couple went on a walkabout to meet the hundreds of people who turned out despite the rain to wish them well.
 
Queen's speech to banquet
Blair honours the Royal Couple

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