PICTURES: Her Majesty The Queen’s reign of 63 years and seven months
ByP&J Reporter
A life spent being photographed
The Queen is today set to pass the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria who, Buckingham Palace has calculated, reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes.
(63 years and seven months)
She will pass Queen Victoria’s record and become the nation’s longest reigning monarch at around 5.30pm.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Angus Morrison  spent last weekend with the Queen at Balmoral Castle and preached in her presence at nearby Crathie Kirk, which she attends when staying in Aberdeenshire.
Today, he said: “People may well wonder what it is that motivates a lady of the Queen’s years to continue day by day with the same full schedule of work and engagements that she has undertaken throughout her reign. The answer, I believe, is both simple and profound.”
Today she and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, travel by steam train to inaugurate the new £294 million Scottish Borders Railway.
Here’s a selection of pictures of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II over her 63 years as the holder of the British Crown.
The golden State coach, bearing the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, passes through the cheering crowds which, despite the rain, packed Trafalgar Square to greet the sovereign on her from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after her Coronation.
Queen Elizabeth II gives a wide smile for the crowd from her carriage as she leaves Westminster Abbey, London after her Coronation.
The Queen, with one of the Royal corgis, chats with polo-playing Prince Philip at Smith’s Lawn, Windsor Great Park, on May 6 1956. … The Queen chats with the Duke of Edinburgh … 1976
This time it is four-year-old Prince Edward and the pet Corgi who seem to be attracting the attention of Queen Elizabeth II, 42. The Royal Family were posing in the gardens at Frogmore, Windsor, for special birthday photographs.
1953 Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh pass through long lines of schoolchildren at a youth rally to greet the royal couple in Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. Jamaica’s new Prime Minister has vowed to abandon the Queen as head of state weeks after it was announced Prince Harry will make a Diamond Jubilee visit to the country. Portia Simpson Miller’s pledge came as she took the oath of office and she said her administration would adopt a republican form of government.
Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversary in the Belgian suite in Buckingham Palace.
The Queen accompanies President Eisenhower on an inspection of the guard at the gates of Balmoral Castle, during the US president’s visit in 1959.
1955 of Princess Anne helping her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, fit the bridle to the pony ‘Greensleeves’, the the grounds of Balmoral Castle during the Royal family’s summer holiday in Scotland.
President John Kennedy (right) and his wife Jacqueline (2nd left) pictured with Queen Elizabeth II (2nd right) and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace, in London. The American couple were guests of the Queen and her husband at dinner.
The Queen in Ballater
Queen Elizabeth II exchanges letters with with Pope John Paul II during an audience at the Vatican in Rome, Italy, Tuesday October 17, 2000. Dressed in black and wearing a veil, the Queen was greeted by the 80-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Church at the door of his study. During a private meeting lasting 20 minutes, they are thought to have discussed progress towards Christian unity and the troubles in Northern Ireland. The Queen arrived in Rome Monday at the start of four day State visit to Italy.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh leave Crathie Kirk the day after Diana Princess of Wales death
Receiving flowers from subjects
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II accompanies Japanese Emperor Akihito to the State Banquet Hall at Buckingham Palace
Left to right: Actor, Michael Caine; singer Shirley Bassey and actress, Joan Collins chat to the Queen during a reception for the British Arts at Windsor Castle
The Queen arrives at Cardiff Castle
The Queen and her sister, Princess Margaret arrive at Aberdeen airport
The Queen and Dean Wesley Carr at Westminster Abbey, for today’s (Thursday) service for the unveiling of ten new statues commemorating Christian martyrs.
The Queen shares a smile with the Duke of Edinburgh in the Royal box during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games tonight (Monday). The Agong (King) of Malaysia, Raja Permaisuri, is on the right and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook is far left.
The Queen at the opening of parliament in 1997
Queen Elizabeth II receives a Royal Salute during a visit to HMS Lancaster at Portsmouth Naval Base, Hampshire
Queen Elizabeth II visits the Thai exhibit during a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show
The Queen arriving in Balmoral this year
The Queen arrives at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station on the day she becomes Britain’s longest reigning monarch
PICTURES: Her Majesty The Queen’s reign of 63 years and seven months
