HILLARY CLINTON SENDS QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY WISHES A WEEK EARLY

HILLARY CLINTON, THE US SECRETARY OF STATE, HAS BEEN LEFT RED FACES AFTER MISTAKENLY SENDING A BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO THE QUEEN A WEEK EARLY. AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM THE US FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF PAID TRIBUTE TO THE 'QUEEN'S LIFE AND LEGACY', DESPITE THE FACT THE MONARCH DOES NOT CELEBRATE HER OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY UNTIL NEXT WEEKEND. THE DIPLOMATIC FAUX PAS, SENT ON BEHALF OF PRESIDENT OMAMA AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON FRIDAY, ALSO CELEBRATED THE 'SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP' BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND US GOVERNMENTS. 'ON THIS CELEBRATORY OCCASION, WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN'S LIFE AND LEGACY AND HONOR THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUT TWO NATIONS', CLINTON SAID. 'THE YOUNG PRINCESS ELIZABETH HELPED RALLY HER NATION IN THE DARKEST OF THAT WAR, AND SHE HAS REMAINED A BEACON OF INTEGRITY AND RESOLVE EVER SINCE. THE UNITED STATES HAS ALWAYS BEEN GRATEFUL FOR HER FRIENDSHIP AND EXAMPLE. ONCE AGAIN, I WISH QUEEN ELIZABETH II A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND PEACE AND PROSPERITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE YEAR TO COME.' CLINTON ADDED THAT THE 'SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A SOLID FOUNDATION AS THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN', WHICH WORKED SIDE BY SIDE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21st CENTURY.' A SPOKESMAN FOR CLINTON ATTEMPTED TO MAKE LIGHT OF THE SOCIAL GAFFE. 'WE WERE A WEEK EARLY', PHILIP CROWLEY JOKED TO REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON. 'AS ALWAYS, IT IS BETTER TO GIVE A GREETING A WEEK EARLY THAN A WEEK LATE.' A BUCKINGHAM PALACE SPOKESPERSON SAID: 'IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A GENUINE MISTAKE AND THERE WAS NO OFFENSE TAKEN WHATSOEVER.' ALTHOUGH 21.APRIL IS HER ACTUAL BIRTHDAY, THE QUEEN'S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY IS CELEBRATED ON A SATURDAY IN JUNE, CULMINATING WITH THE ANNUAL TROOPING THE COLOUR PARADE. THIS YEAR THE CEREMONY, ALSO ATTENDED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD, IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT SATURDAY. SHE HAD EARLIER CELEBRATED HER 'REAL' BIRTHDAY AT WINDSOR CASTLE. THE TRADITION OF CELEBRATING TWO BIRTHDAYS BEGAN UNDER KING EDWARD VII, WHO WAS BORN IN NOVEMBER BUT WANTED HIS BIRTHDAY PARADE TO TAKE PLACE IN JUNE SO HE COULD ENJOY SUMMER WEATHER.