 In her later years , the Queen Mother became known for her longevity . Her 90th birthday — 4 August 1990 — was celebrated by a parade on 27 June that involved many of the 300 organisations of which she was patron . In 1995 , she attended events commemorating the end of the war fifty years before , and had two operations : one to remove a cataract in her left eye , and one to replace her right hip . In 1998 , her left hip was replaced after it was broken when she slipped and fell during a visit to Sandringham stables . Her 100th birthday was celebrated in a number of ways : a parade that celebrated the highlights of her life included contributions from Norman Wisdom and John Mills ; her image appeared on a special commemorative £ 20 note issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland ; and she attended a lunch at the Guildhall , London , at which George Carey , the Archbishop of Canterbury , accidentally attempted to drink her glass of wine . Her quick admonition of " That 's mine ! " caused widespread amusement . In November 2000 , she broke her collarbone in a fall that kept her recuperating at home over Christmas and the New Year . On 1 August 2001 , she had a blood transfusion for anaemia after suffering from mild heat exhaustion , though she was well enough to make her traditional appearance outside Clarence House three days later to celebrate her 101st birthday . Her final public engagements included planting a cross at the Field of Remembrance on 8 November 2001 ; a reception at the Guildhall , London , for the reformation of the 600 Squadron , Royal Auxiliary Air Force on 15 November ; and attending the re @-@ commissioning of HMS Ark Royal on 22 November . 
