Queen Elizabeth II has become become the second-longest reigning monarch in 1,000 years of British history. She has now overtaken George III, who reigned for 59 years, 96 days plus 13 extra leap-year days, totalling 21,644 days. Only one royal ancestor has had greater longevity on the throne: the Queen's great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
The Queen, who celebrates her diamond jubilee next year, acceded the throne on February 6, 1952. She has reigned for 59 years and 95 days plus 15 extra leap-year days, totalling 21,645 days. In this gallery we look back at her life in pictures.
29 May 1926: Future King and Queen - George, Duke of York and Elizabeth, Duchess of York - hold their first child, Princess Elizabeth, at her christening ceremony
12 September 1937: The Royal family stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the coronation of King George VI. He is with Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother), and their daughters Princess Elizabeth (waving) and Princess Margaret
1942: A Cecil Beaton portrait of the teenaged Princess Elizabeth wearing her ATS uniform during World War II
8 May 1945: Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, King George VI and Princess Margaret wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during VE Day celebrations
11 July 1947: Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten outside Buckingham Palace after announcing their engagement publicly
20 November 1947: Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip leave Westminster Abbey after their wedding. The bride wore a gown by Norman Hartnell.
14 December 1948: Princess Elizabeth holds her son Prince Charles after his christening ceremony at Buckingham Palace
2 June 1953: Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey. The coronation of the Queen was the first ever to be televised, and many British families bought their first television set so that they could watch the ceremony
2 June 1953: The newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne stand with her.
17 October 1957: US President Dwight Eisenhower and first lady Mamie are flanked by their royal guests, Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, at the White House
21 October 1957: Queen Elizabeth II addresses the United Nations General Assembly, while her husband sits at left. Seated behind the Queen are, left to right, UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjold; General Assembly President Sir Leslie Munro and Assistant Secretary General Andrew Cordier.
21 April 1965: The Queen stands with her family (from left) Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales (Charles) and the Duke of Edinburgh, on the Queen's 39th birthday
20 November 1972: The Queen and Prince Philip sort through a basket of mail on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary
28 June 1977: The Queen, Princess Anne, Earl Mountbatten (Last viceroy of India) and the Duke of Edinburgh stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during her Silver Jubilee celebrations
0 comments