Queen Victoria long held the record of being the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Born in 1819, Victoria served as Queen from June 20, 1837 to January 22, 1901 – a total of 63 years and 216 days. Revered by her subjects, Queen Victoria was a symbol of her age, and the longevity of her reign was seen as a testament to her glorious majesty. When she died in 1901 at the age of 81, few could remember a time when she was not Queen.
Neither did it seem possible that any subsequent monarch could surpass the record set by Victoria. However, her great-great granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, did just that on September 9, 2015. Queen Elizabeth II reigned from February 6, 1952 to September 8, 2022, and was a model of devoted public service. Through good times and bad, the Queen always retained the genuine respect and affection of her subjects.
While Queen Elizabeth herself did not mark this historic milestone with any particular pomp or ceremony, it was nevertheless a remarkable achievement.