Washington, D.C. ? But will she be amused?

The State Department has conceded committing a diplomatic faux pas by sending birthday greetings to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II a week early.

Spokesman P.J. Crowley allowed that a congratulatory message from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sent Friday on what the department thought was the eve of the queen’s official birthday had been premature.

In London, Buckingham Palace confirmed it was aware of the mistake but declined to say whether the State Department had offered an apology. “No offense was taken at all,” said a palace official, who spoke anonymously in keeping with official British policy.