[Leon Harris, Cnn Anchor:] In London 50 years ago today, Queen Elizabeth II took over Britain's throne. Now a jubilee commemorates the event and marks the death of the king five decades ago. CNN's Diana Muriel joins us now live from London. She has got more on what the queen is doing on this golden anniversary. Must be a pretty big time over there, Diana.
[Diana Muriel, Cnn Correspondent:] Yes, Leon, it is the start of the official celebrations of the queen's 50th anniversary on the throne, her golden jubilee. Although it is a muted occasion, because of course today is the anniversary of the death of her father. But in London, the occasion was marked by two-gun salutes, the first one at Hyde Park, a 41-gun salute given by king's troops, royal horse artillery, and second one at midday, given by the honorable artillery at the Tower of London, down by the River Thames. The queen, though, was not in attendance. She ritually spends today at her private residence, Sandringham, which in the east of England, in Norfolk. But she did break with tradition today. She doesn't usually take on public engagements on this day, but she decided today to go to a nearby hospital at Kingslin, also in Norfolk, and visit a cancer ward at the McMillan Hospital there. She met with doctors, nurses and patients at the hospital, which is also very close to Sandringham. She has been staying at Sandringham with the mother, the queen mother, who hasn't been well in recent months. In fact, the queen mother has not been seen in public since last November. She did not attend the family Christmas celebrations at Balmoral in Scotland, as is her habit. And she has been reported as being ill, suffering from a cold, and loss of appetite. Although we do understand that in recent days, the queen mother, who is 101 years old, has recovered something of her health, although she is not yet due to take up any official public engagements. The queen, though, is about to set off on a very large tour. She is about to travel to Jamaica, New Zealand and Australia, all countries in the Commonwealth. She begins that tour on the 18th of February, and she will be returning to Britain on the 3rd of March. The queen will then undertake a very large program of events around the country. But the highlight of the ceremonies to mark the golden jubilee will be here at Buckingham Palace in June. There will be a pop concert held in the gardens at Buckingham Palace. We understand that Aretha Franklin has agreed to perform at that concert, and Buckingham Palace hopes that they will have Sir Paul McCartney, as well as Sir Elton John also performing there. And that will be the highlight, together with the fireworks display and various other ceremonies in the summer. Back to you.
[Harris:] All right, thank you very much, Diana Muriel. That actually makes sense, having Aretha Franklin over there, the queen of soul, to help the queen celebrate her jubilee.