Washington, DC - Secretary of State John Kerry: "On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate Queen Elizabeth II and the people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as you celebrate Her Majesty’s Birthday on June 13.

"Her Majesty’s outstanding service to cause and country is a testament to the spirit of the British people.  I am grateful for her commitment to our special relationship.  For many of us, this relationship isn’t just special.  It’s personal.  The people-to-people connections between us run deep and wide.

"I was reminded of those bonds as we commemorated the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.  Even those of us too young to remember the day have seen the photos of crowds stretching from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.  We have watched footage of Her Majesty’s parents, alongside Winston Churchill, marking the end of war and the return of peace.  And we have heard the story of then-Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, slipping out of the palace to join their countrymen in celebration.  Seventy years later, the alliance between our two nations is as strong as ever.

"On her birthday, I wish Her Majesty the Queen many happy returns."