On August 4, HM the Queen Mother entered her 100th year. A member of the Royal Family for 76 years, a Queen and Lady of the Garter for 63 and Queen Mother for 47, her achievements are celebrated by Hugh Massingberd in Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother: Woman of the Century (Macmillan/The Daily Telegraph, ?14.99). On her birthday, Clarence House will witness scenes of time-honoured rejoicing.

The Queen Mother is currently in better health than she was between 1993 and 1995, and previously nervous fans now depart with ‘See you next year.’ This summer, after a week of the Garter and Ascot, she danced at Prince Edward’s wedding reception; I suspect she just ignores the mounting years. As the Queen Mother heads to the Millennium and her own century, we salute her relish for life.