All hail Britain’s newest longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
The 89-year-old has taken out the top spot from her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who held a firm rule for 63 years and 216 days.
The incredible milestone comes days after the Queen was voted the greatest-serving monarch in a comprehensive poll run by the Sunday Times.
The beloved royal will break away from tradition and spend the landmark day at her Scottish retreat, Balmoral, with loved ones before opening the new Borders Railway in nearby town, Galashiels.
Queen Elizabeth’s glorious rule began at the tender age of 25 following the tragic death of her treasured father, George VI in 1952.
“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we belong,” she humbly and solemnly promised the Commonwealth.
The ceremony took place at London’s iconic Westminster Abbey in back in June 1953, changing her fate forever.
Throughout her momentous reign, she not only tended to all of her royal duties like a true professional but she also managed to raise her children and be adored by millions.
Prince William recently honoured his inspiring grandmother in the preface to her autobiography.
“I think I speak for my generation when I say that the example and continuity provided by The Queen is not only very rare among leaders but a great source of pride and reassurance,” the future king said aptly.
“The Queen’s kindness and sense of humour, her innate sense of calm and perspective and her love of family and home are all attributes I experience first-hand.”
Before concluding, “Speaking for myself, I am privileged to have The Queen as a model for a life of service to the public.”
In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s landmark milestone of becoming Britain’s longest-serving monarch, we take a retrospective look back at her remarkable reign.
Queen Elizabeth II has reached momentous milestone in her life, officially becoming Britain’s newest longest-serving monarch.
The 89-year-old has taken out the top spot from her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who held a firm reign for 63 years and 216 days.
For the first ten years of a-then Princess Elizabeth’s life, the prospect of becoming the heir to the throne would have been a far feat. That was until her uncle, King Edward VII, abdicated the throne propelling her father to become King George VI.
In fact, it has been noted that the intelligent little girl knew she was meant to be a leader. Princess Margaret is believed to have asked her sister if she was the next Queen, to which Elizabeth responded: “Yes, someday!” Young Margaret was quick to declare: “Poor you!”
Queen Elizabeth’s nickname is “Lilibet”. She got the sweet name because she struggled to pronounce “Elizabeth” when she was young. Her father, The King, lovingly mused of his girls: “Lilibet is my pride. Margaret is my joy.”
Despite her illustrious royal future, the young Princess always strived to serve. During World War II she joined the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945. Not afraid to get her hands dirty, Elizabeth trained as a mechanic and driver.
Queen Elizabeth may be the longest-serving monarch, but we also admire the love she has for her husband, Prince Philip, 94. The pair tied the knot in breath-taking ceremony back in November 1947. When Philip first met Elizabeth he recalled: “You were so shy. I couldn’t get a word out of you.”
Elizabeth’s life changed forever on February 6, 1952. 62-years-ago, the Princess was on a royal tour of Kenya with her husband when the heartbreaking news of her father’s death broke. It’s believed Elizabeth was atop an African fig tree the moment she became a Queen. Here she is pictured returning back to England following the somber news.
Queen Elizabeth’s coronation ceremony took place on June 2, 1953 – she was just 27 years old.
A woman in her twenties, Queen Elizabeth couldn’t have foreseen the incredible achievements she was about embark upon.
A Queen that reigned supreme with an impeccable sense of style.
Not many sovereign rulers can get away with applying lippie at any location, at any time! But our Lizzie does…
In an average year, the Queen hosts more than 50,000 people at banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and garden parties at Buckingham Palace.
During her incredible rule, there has been constant support for Elizabeth and her unbridled love and passion for the job.
Throughout her reign she not only tended to all of her royal duties like a true professional but she also managed to raise her children: Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
A woman of many talents… The Queen speaks fluent French and often uses the language for audiences and state visits.
She may be British royalty, but the Queen happily rubs shoulders with Hollywood royalty. Here she is meeting Angelina Jolie in 2014.
We all know Queen Elizabeth adores her corgis but she also has a deep love for horses. Riding since she was a little girl, Her Majesty has won much praise for her skills. Shots were fired during the 1981 Trooping of Colour ceremony but the Queen, who was at close range, managed to keep the horse completely calm.
The beloved royal owns some of the world’s most beautiful jewels…
But the Queen doesn’t need a tiara to look good!
The Queen once mused in 1989: “Like all the best families, we have our share of eccentricities, of impetuous and wayward youngsters and of family disagreements.”
Despite their fractured relationship, the Queen loved Princess Diana. After her tragic death in 1997, Elizabeth addressed the world: “She was an exceptional and gifted human being. In good times and bad, she never lost her capacity to smile and laugh, nor to inspire others with her warmth and kindness. I admired and respected her – for her energy and commitment to others, and especially for her devotion to her two boys.”
She may be the ruler of the Commonwealth, but that doesn’t stop Elizabeth from driving herself around. Plus, she is the only person in Britain who can drive without a license or number plate on her state car. There is a famous anecdote that Queen Elizabeth once took King Abdullah for a rather bumpy drive in 1998 at her Balmoral estate. “Abdullah was not used to being driven by a woman, let alone a queen. Through his interpreter, the Crown Prince implored the Queen to slow down and concentrate on the road ahead,” a Saudi Arabia diplomat recalled of the funny story.
A woman of tradition. The Queen has made a Christmas broadcast to the Commonwealth every year of her reign except in 1969, when the Queen issued a written message instead.
And she’s not afraid to try her hand at the latest technology, including social media! She sent her first tweet last October. The post read: “It is a pleasure to open the Information Age exhibition today at the @ScienceMuseum and I hope people will enjoy visiting. Elizabeth R.”
She’s also the Queen of the selfie and she’s not opposed to a royally good photobomb.
“I think I prefer my throne.” Elizabeth showed no desire to sit on the Game of Thrones’ Iron Throne. In fact, show-runner David Benioff explained that the Queen of England is not allowed to sit on a foreign throne. Who knew?!
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s strong relationship is based on their mutual love and respect but also a shared sense of humour.
Philip always manages to put a smile on his wife’s face. Queen Elizabeth II got a serious case of the giggles when she walked past her husband, who was standing to attention in his uniform and bearskin hat at Buckingham Palace back in 2005.
It is a love story that transcends time, fit for a fairy-tale book. So what’s their secret? “You can take it from me, the Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance,” the Duke of Edinburgh has said.
Whether it is enjoying enjoying a Sunday paper…
Or standing by her side, Philip has always been there. It is the Prince’s utter devotion to his wife that has been a backbone to their incredible partnership. “My job first, second and last is never to let the Queen down,” he has sweetly said.
The astounding responsibility of being Queen is something Elizabeth has never taken lightly, or for granted. In 1957 for her first televised Christmas address, the Queen said: “I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”
“I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong,” The Queen said on her 21st birthday in 1947. It is a sentiment she has honoured ever since.
“He has quite simply been my strength and stay all these years, and I and his whole family and this and many other countries owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know,” the Queen said proudly of her love, Prince Philip, during their golden wedding anniversary speech in 1997.
For her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, Elizabeth addressed the world with this message: “In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the United Kingdom and the wider Commonwealth.”
Congratulations to her Majesty for such a wonderful achievement, you are a true leader of our times.
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