Queen Elizabeth Greets 8,000 Guests for Traditional Garden Party

It was a stirring moment Thursday when the military band struck up "God Save the Queen" and Queen Elizabeth II appeared on the garden steps of Buckingham Palace next to her husband, Prince Philip.
She didn't wave. A quiet smile carried the day.
Then the 89-year-old monarch walked gingerly down the steps and spent nearly an hour chatting with some of her 8,000 guests before sitting down.
The Queen's Garden Party, a tradition that started more than 145 years ago with Queen Victoria, has changed as little as possible despite the modernity.
There is more security, true, and the sound of traffic sometimes intrudes, but the garden party remains a timeless tableau.
The splendor of the palace, and the presence of the queen, even moved some to tears.