UK Queen vows to serve nation

LONDON, England -- Queen Elizabeth II declared her resolve to continue serving the UK during an historic address to both Houses of Parliament at the start of her Golden Jubilee celebrations.

The British monarch -- addressing a joint session of the House of Commons and the House of Lords for only the fifth time in her 50-year reign -- also acknowledged that the monarchy must always evolve.

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The Queen, accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Hall on Tuesday, referred to the core values which have inspired her during her reign -- a time of accelerating change. (Text of Queen's speech)

She stressed the tradition of service to others and announced the setting up of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Award, an annual award for voluntary groups in the community.

The Queen put aside suggestions that she should take more of a back-seat role, especially after the deaths of both her mother and sister this year.

She told MPs and peers: "I would like above all to declare my resolve to continue, with the support of my family, to serve the people of this great nation of ours to the best of my ability through the changing times ahead.

"Change has become a constant; managing it has become an expanding discipline. The way we embrace it defines our future.

"We in these islands have the benefit of a long and proud history. This not only gives us a trusted framework of stability and continuity to ease the process of change, but it also tells us what is of lasting value.

It was in the medieval surroundings of Westminster Hall where only three weeks ago the Queen's mother lay in state. The 76-year-old monarch said it was right that the first major event of her Golden Jubilee should be in the Palace of Westminster.

She paid tribute to the work of the "Mother of Parliaments" which had played an essential part in guiding the kingdom through the changing times of the past 50 years.

The Queen said: "Since 1952 I have witnessed the transformation of the international landscape through which this country must chart its course, the emergence of the Commonwealth, the growth of the European Union, the end of the Cold War, and now the dark threat of international terrorism.

"This has been matched by no less rapid developments at home, in the devolved shape of our nation, in the structure of society, in technology and communications, in our work and in the way we live."