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Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the former Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, is seen here in this 1909 photo at Glamis Castle, Scotland at the age nine, wearing a period fancy dress costume. Britain's Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother a hugely popular member of the royal family celebrates her 99th birthday Wednesday August 4th 1999. Outside her official London residence Clarence House, the Queen Mother, Wednesday morning greeted thousands of well-wishers who came with offers of birthday cards and flowers. The Queen Mother a widow for 47 years since her husband, King George VI, died of lung cancer, never expected to be Queen, but George came to the throne in 1936 because his brother Edward VII abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Next year, the Queen Mother will be due for the signed card and picture her daughter Queen Elizabeth II sends to every subject who makes it to the age of 100. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/Str) === ===