Queen Elizabeth crystallises feelings of nation in birthday statement

The Queen on the day of her official birthday has issued an unusual statement.

It is "traditionally a day of celebration" she writes, but it is "difficult to escape a very somber national mood".

She wrote this after visiting those left homeless by the fire at Grenfell Tower on Friday.

The Queen also met those injured in hospital after the Manchester suicide bomb in May where she spoke to people who had witnessed the explosion and saw people killed.

She writes on Saturday about how impressed she has been by the "immediate inclination" of people to "offer comfort and support to those in desperate need".

At 91, she remains intuitive, and with these words she has shown an ability to crystallise the feeling in the country after so many traumatic events in recent months.

And for many they are words from the Head of State which will offer a degree of comfort.