While many members of her family and subjects across the
globe were enjoying a lazy Easter Monday
holiday, the Queen and her equally hard-working husband spent much of
the day on duty.
The Queen and Prince Philip made a trip across the English Channel for a solemn service
marking the sacrifice of thousands of Canadian soldiers who laid down their lives in
World War One.
The Queen and Prince Philip were in Vimy, France, to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The conflict resulted in the serious injury and deaths of thousands of Canadian soldiers as they fought German troops during one of the bloodiest episodes of the so-called 'Great War'.
The Queen, who'll celebrate her 81st birthday on April 21st, was on this occasion very much on duty as 'Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Canada'.
Addressing an outdoor audience which included the Prime Minister's of Canada and France, the Queen hailed the "bravery, courage and sacrifice" of the Canadian soldiers who laid down their lives in battle, recalling how the troops "inspired a young country to become a proud nation."
Although she is primarily known worldwide as 'The Queen of England', Elizabeth takes seriously her role as Head of The Commonwealth and, over the years, has even engaged in diplomatic battles with a number of British Prime Ministers — most notably Margaret Thatcher — who've at times shown a little disdain for the Commonwealth, focusing instead on strengthening ties with America.
