BRITAINS LONGEST REIGNING MONARCH

The Queen was described as a 'beacon of womankind' by celebrity photographer Mary McCartney who captured the image of the monarch sitting at her desk in Buckingham Palace. Later today, she will pass the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years and 216 days between 1837 and 1901.  



The exact moment the Queen passes Victoria's milestone is not known because there is no precise time for the death of her father George VI - who died in the early hours of February 6, 1952. But it is thought he died at 1am, so at around 5.30pm the Queen will make history with Buckingham Palace calculating she will have reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and about 30 minutes.



The Queen around the time of her Coronation 6th February 1952