Queen's birthday message points to 'very sombre national mood'

Amid the turmoil of militantattacks, political crisis and a deadly fire disaster, QueenElizabeth said Britain was in a deeply sombre mood but that itspeople were resolute in the face of adversity.

Scarred by three deadly Islamist militant attacks and atower block fire that killed dozens in London, Britain is alsograppling with a political crisis that has left Prime MinisterTheresa May weakened on the eve of Brexit talks.

"It is difficult to escape a very sombre national mood,"Elizabeth, the world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch, saidin a message on her official birthday. "The country haswitnessed a succession of terrible tragedies."

Elizabeth said that during recent visits to meet victimsshe had been struck by the inclination of people to offercomfort and support to those in need.

"Put to the test, the United Kingdom has been resolute inthe face of adversity," she said. "United in our sadness, we areequally determined, without fear or favour, to support all thoserebuilding lives so horribly affected by injury and loss."

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Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926 in Bruton Street incentral London when Calvin Coolidge was U.S. President and JosefStalin had just taken control in the Soviet Union. She becamequeen in 1952, aged 25.

At 91, she still regularly carries out official duties buthas cut back on her number of engagements in recent years. Shecelebrates two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21April and her official one which usually falls on the secondSaturday in June.