London ? British soldiers in tall bearskin hats marched before Queen Elizabeth II and military jets saluted her with a flyby over Buckingham Palace on Saturday in the second round of celebrations of her 80th birthday.

Thousands of Londoners and tourists – many waving small Union Jack flags – yelled “Happy Birthday!” to the queen, who waved back with a white-gloved hand.

Elizabeth, wearing a deep purple coat and hat, rode down the mall near the palace in an ivory carriage built for Queen Victoria in 1842 for the ceremony at the Horseguards Parade ground in central London. Mounted members of the Household Calvary rode before her, clad in golden armor.

Queen Elizabeth II feeds a carrot stick to a horse Saturday in the courtyard at Buckingham Palace after returning from her 80th birthday celebration.

With martial music playing, hundreds of soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats paraded near Buckingham Palace.

Later, 49 aircraft – led by Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster commemorating the World War II Battle of Britain – flew by as the queen and her family watched from a palace balcony.

The Trooping of the Color parade – in which a regiment is chosen to present its color, or flag, to the monarch – marks the queen’s official birthday every June. Dating back to the early 18th century, the ceremony is one of Britain’s grandest annual shows of royal pageantry.

This year the designated regiment was the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

Queen Elizabeth II, center, returns to Buckingham Palace after attending her 80th birthday celebration Saturday in London. Elizabeth was born April 21, but the official, outdoor celebration comes two months later, when the chance of warm weather is better.

Elizabeth was born April 21, but the official, outdoor celebration comes two months later, when the chance of warm weather is better. It was hot and sunny Saturday in downtown London.

“As Americans, we’re sort of in awe that thousands of people would come out for the queen’s birthday,” said Bill Wycoff, 59, of Sewickly, Pa. “I can’t imagine Americans doing this for George Bush or any other American president.”

Elizabeth rode to and from the palace with her husband Prince Philip, 85, who wore a bearskin hat and ceremonial red military dress.

After the royals returned to the palace, a set of World War I cannons fired off a salute to the queen.