“Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception.” Queen Elizabeth II
This week – 9th September – Queen Elizabeth II officially pipped her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria for the title of longest serving British monarch.
The measure was calculated (sadly) from the moment of her father, George VI’s death in 1952 – the moment at which the 25 year old Elizabeth’s reign officially began.
So it was 63 years, 7 months, 2 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes – and counting now – since she first ascended the throne.
News reports have stressed the 89 year old monarch’s desire ‘not to make a fuss’ about the landmark achievement and in her typical understated style, she made only a brief reference to it in a speech she gave while opening a new railway line in Scotland, saying it was a milestone she had never aspired to.
“[People] have also kindly noted another significance attaching to today, although it is not one to which I have ever aspired.”
“Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception. But I thank you all and the many others at home and overseas for your touching messages,” she said.
The march of the monarchs since 1603
To commemorate Queen Elizabeth II officially becoming the longest serving British monarch, the ABC has out together a brief video that shows the faces of every British king and queen since 1603 morphing into each other.
Now matter what you think of the monarchy, it’s all history and this is a great watch.
