Queen's humanity hailed at 80th birthday service

LONDON, June 15 (Reuters) Queen Elizabeth was hailed for giving the monarchy a human face at a national service of thanksgiving today to mark her 80th birthday.

Politicians, pop stars and military chiefs packed into St Paul's Cathedral to pay tribute to the feisty octogenarian who shows no signs of slowing down or ever contemplating abdication.

In a sermon, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said: ''monarchy as it has developed here is a way of keeping power human.'' He also took the unusual step of sympathising with the monarch for the intrusions of a celebrity-obsessed culture into the private lives of the House of Windsor.

''Your Majesty has more reason than most to know the cost of a culture fanatically eager for gossip and trivia and the exposure in public of what should be private,'' he said.

Security was tight in the cathedral with a guest list that ranged from former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to pop stars Cliff Richard and Eric Clapton.

Reuters CH VV1657