szott new recruits, she's an inspiration. >> proud. stood there, chest out, head held high. it. >> reporter: the enthusiasm is widely shared. the royals are now more popular than anyone can remember. public approval at 80%. but respect matters more to the queen and among the military, it has never waivered. the queen and her family's relationship with the armed forces goes beyond pomp and pageantry. it's also personal. in world war ii, a young princess elizabeth joined the women's auxillary as a driver and mechanic. her husband was a naval officer, and she would go on to worry like only a mother can when prince andrew flew helicopters in the faulk lands war. now it's the turn of her grandsons. prince harry is likely to return to afghanistan at the controls of an apache helicopter while prince william works as a rescue pilot. >> i think she's lovely. great woman, great family. and i'm glad that that's what we' got as our head of state. >> reporter: today's spectacular parade and fly-by are only part of the build-up for the jubilee weekend, celebrating her 60 years on the thro