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| Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest reigning British monarch - live updates | Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest reigning British monarch - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.44pm BST12:44 | |
| A nationwide “Clean for The Queen” campaign has been launched today in a bid to clear up Britain in time for the monarch’s 90th birthday. The initiative will encourage people to tackle the litter problem in the country’s cities, town, villages, roadsides and countryside by June 2016. | |
| Country Life magazine is spearheading the drive, which is backed by the Government and organisations such as the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Women’s Institute and the Garfield Weston Foundation. An army of litter pickers will be rallied to tidy up their local areas and a special clean up weekend will be staged from March 4 to March 6 next year. | |
| The Queen’s actual birthday is on April 21, but her official birthday will be marked next June when the bulk of the national celebrations will be held. | |
| 12.40pm BST12:40 | |
| Of course, not everyone is marking today’s milestone. There are many around the world questioning the Queen’s role in the 21st Century. Amongst them are anti-monarchist group Republic. Graham Smith, a spokesman for the organisation, said keeping a job for life was not an achievement and the event should not be celebrated. | |
| The Queen has survived this long in her role as head of state for one reason: she has never had to face election or be held to account. | |
| When anyone survives in public office for this long it is usually a sign of something wrong, either in the country’s constitution or in the political culture. There is either a lack of will to challenge that person or a lack of mechanism to remove them - or both. | |
| To say the Queen has succeeded by ‘not putting a foot wrong’ is to miss the point of a head of state and to set the bar for success very low indeed. | |
| 12.33pm BST12:33 | |
| Gloriana leads flotilla on the Thames | |
| A flotilla is currently making its way down the Thames. The Tower Bridge has lifted as a mark of respect. | |
| The Tower Bridge lifts & Gloriana leads flotilla on the Thames to salute The Queen (via @NinaNannarITV) #LongestReign pic.twitter.com/rGTDVaWg1r | |
| London and the River Thames say congratulations on your record reign to HM the Queen. And so say all of us. pic.twitter.com/qpU8nGo6OJ | |
| Fun watching the #flotilla go by on the River Thames #longestreign pic.twitter.com/hAtEovzcp3 | |
| All on deck: crew on frigate HMS Portland ready to salute #royalflotilla @royalnavy #thames @totallythames pic.twitter.com/JlXlHcekoQ | |
| Naval officers form up aboard HMS Portland, next to HMS Belfast, to salute the flotilla for #longestreign on Thames pic.twitter.com/uYyKmaO283 | |
| Updated at 12.36pm BST | |
| 12.23pm BST12:23 | |
| The Queen’s popularity is riding pretty high - she’s considered the greatest monarch in British history, according to a recent YouGov poll. | |
| Polling also indicates that the royal family as a whole remain pretty popular with the British public. Support crosses all age groups and political affiliations, with 71% of British adults believing the monarchy should remain. | |
| We want to hear your view of the British monarchy, wherever you are in the world. If you’re British: are you happy with it continuing, even after the end of Elizabeth’s reign? Do you consider the Queen a “past-mistress of nothingness”, in the words of Polly Toynbee, or do you think of the monarchy a useful constitutional bulwark? | |
| Related: Proud tradition or ludicrous anachronism? Share your views on the British royal family | |
| 12.21pm BST12:21 | |
| The Queen’s self-abnegation is about self-interest, not just duty, writes Deborah Orr. I’ve included a couple of paragraph’s from Deborah’s article below, but you can read the whole thing here. | |
| In putting duty and service first, the Queen has also put survival first. She carries on so that she and her family and their institution can carry on. Her self-abnegation is really self-interest. The attraction of a scrap of unwanted attention in among all that wanted attention simply creates unpredictability, when predictability is the essence of the entire business. | |
| The Queen’s long reign has delivered more predictability than any monarch before her. Sure, all she had to do was stay alive. But we all know that plenty of monarchs have failed in this task, quite catastrophically. If a Queen can have a crowning achievement, then hers will come at about 5.30 this evening. If there is a God, he has certainly saved the Queen. | |
| 12.18pm BST12:18 | 12.18pm BST12:18 |
| And below is our video of Cameron’s tribute. | And below is our video of Cameron’s tribute. |
| 12.15pm BST12:15 | 12.15pm BST12:15 |
| Harriet Harman pays tribute - quotes | Harriet Harman pays tribute - quotes |
| I’ve got some fuller quotes from Harriet Harman, who paid tribute to the Queen before her final PMQs as Labour party leader. She said: | I’ve got some fuller quotes from Harriet Harman, who paid tribute to the Queen before her final PMQs as Labour party leader. She said: |
| There can be no doubt of the commitment that she has made and the public service she has given, and continues to give. Her life has been a great sweep of British history - the Second World War, the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and she’s presided over the transition from empire to Commonwealth. | There can be no doubt of the commitment that she has made and the public service she has given, and continues to give. Her life has been a great sweep of British history - the Second World War, the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and she’s presided over the transition from empire to Commonwealth. |
| She is now on her 12th Prime Minister. We on these benches had hoped she would now be on her 13th. She reigns over 140 million people - that is a huge number, nearly as many as the number of Labour Party’s registered supporters - and it’s entirely characteristic of her that she has let it be known that she doesn’t want there to be a fuss about today, but we are making a fuss and deservedly so. | She is now on her 12th Prime Minister. We on these benches had hoped she would now be on her 13th. She reigns over 140 million people - that is a huge number, nearly as many as the number of Labour Party’s registered supporters - and it’s entirely characteristic of her that she has let it be known that she doesn’t want there to be a fuss about today, but we are making a fuss and deservedly so. |
| 12.12pm BST12:12 | 12.12pm BST12:12 |
| Here’s our Guardian video of the Queen arriving at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, where she met Nicola Sturgeon before boarding the Union of South Africa steam train. | Here’s our Guardian video of the Queen arriving at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, where she met Nicola Sturgeon before boarding the Union of South Africa steam train. |
| 12.12pm BST12:12 | 12.12pm BST12:12 |
| For the fashionistas among you, the Queen is dressed in a Karl Ludwig turquoise and indigo blue wool coat with a turquoise silk and wool dress. Her matching hat was by her senior dresser Angela Kelly. | For the fashionistas among you, the Queen is dressed in a Karl Ludwig turquoise and indigo blue wool coat with a turquoise silk and wool dress. Her matching hat was by her senior dresser Angela Kelly. |
| The Queen’s jewellery was especially chosen in recognition of her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, whose reign she will overtake. Made of diamonds, her bow brooch is part of a set of three which was made for Victoria in 1858 from her own diamonds. They were later worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary at their coronations. Queen Mary tended to wear all three in a vertical row, but Elizabeth II wears them singly. She inherited them from Queen Mary in 1952. | The Queen’s jewellery was especially chosen in recognition of her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, whose reign she will overtake. Made of diamonds, her bow brooch is part of a set of three which was made for Victoria in 1858 from her own diamonds. They were later worn by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary at their coronations. Queen Mary tended to wear all three in a vertical row, but Elizabeth II wears them singly. She inherited them from Queen Mary in 1952. |
| 12.08pm BST12:08 | 12.08pm BST12:08 |
| Frances Perraudin | Frances Perraudin |
| The cabinet will present the Queen with a gift of a bound copy of the cabinet papers from 22nd October 1952, which records the cabinet discussion of the speech that she would later make at the first state opening of parliament she presided over on the 4th November 1952. | The cabinet will present the Queen with a gift of a bound copy of the cabinet papers from 22nd October 1952, which records the cabinet discussion of the speech that she would later make at the first state opening of parliament she presided over on the 4th November 1952. |
| The papers, which are now declassified, show that the cabinet also discussed the draft transport bill, the coalfields in the Saar and the engineering and ship building industries. The prime minister’s spokesperson said the gift highlighted “just how many cabinets there have been since her first”. | The papers, which are now declassified, show that the cabinet also discussed the draft transport bill, the coalfields in the Saar and the engineering and ship building industries. The prime minister’s spokesperson said the gift highlighted “just how many cabinets there have been since her first”. |
| 12.03pm BST12:03 | 12.03pm BST12:03 |
| David Cameron pays tribute to the Queen - quotes | David Cameron pays tribute to the Queen - quotes |
| The tributes have now ended and Prime Minister’s Questions have begun. Here are some fuller quotes from Cameron. Referring to the Queen’s wish for today to be treated like any other day, he said: | The tributes have now ended and Prime Minister’s Questions have begun. Here are some fuller quotes from Cameron. Referring to the Queen’s wish for today to be treated like any other day, he said: |
| While I rarely advocate disobeying Her Majesty, least of all in her own Parliament, I do think it’s right today we should stop and take a moment as a nation to mark this historic milestone and to thank Her Majesty for the extraordinary service she’s given to our country over more than six decades. | While I rarely advocate disobeying Her Majesty, least of all in her own Parliament, I do think it’s right today we should stop and take a moment as a nation to mark this historic milestone and to thank Her Majesty for the extraordinary service she’s given to our country over more than six decades. |
| The Queen is our Queen and we could not be more proud of her. She has served this country with an unerring grace, dignity and decency and long may she continue to do so. | The Queen is our Queen and we could not be more proud of her. She has served this country with an unerring grace, dignity and decency and long may she continue to do so. |
| Cameron said the Queen inspired everyone with her “incredible service, dignified leadership and the extraordinary grace” with which she carries out her duties. He recalled when the monarch, then aged 21, vowed to dedicate her life to serving the Commonwealth, telling MPs: “It’s one thing for a 21-year-old to utter those inspiring words. It’s another to live by them for more than 60 years.” | Cameron said the Queen inspired everyone with her “incredible service, dignified leadership and the extraordinary grace” with which she carries out her duties. He recalled when the monarch, then aged 21, vowed to dedicate her life to serving the Commonwealth, telling MPs: “It’s one thing for a 21-year-old to utter those inspiring words. It’s another to live by them for more than 60 years.” |
| The PM said it was “truly humbling” to comprehend the scale of the Queen’s public service, noting: | The PM said it was “truly humbling” to comprehend the scale of the Queen’s public service, noting: |
| The reign of Queen Elizabeth has been a golden thread running through three post-war generations, and she’s presided over more than two-thirds of our history as a full democracy with everyone being able to vote. | The reign of Queen Elizabeth has been a golden thread running through three post-war generations, and she’s presided over more than two-thirds of our history as a full democracy with everyone being able to vote. |
| Cameron added the Queen has answered more than 3.5 million pieces of correspondence and sent more than 100,000 telegrams to centenarians across the Commonwealth and “met more people than any other monarch in history”. He prompted laughter in the Commons as he added: | Cameron added the Queen has answered more than 3.5 million pieces of correspondence and sent more than 100,000 telegrams to centenarians across the Commonwealth and “met more people than any other monarch in history”. He prompted laughter in the Commons as he added: |
| And yet whether it’s something we suspect she enjoys, like the Highland Games, or something we suspect she might be slightly less keen on, such as spending new year’s eve in the Millennium Dome, she never, ever falters. Her selfless sense of service and duty have earned her unparalleled respect and admiration not only in Britain but around the world. | And yet whether it’s something we suspect she enjoys, like the Highland Games, or something we suspect she might be slightly less keen on, such as spending new year’s eve in the Millennium Dome, she never, ever falters. Her selfless sense of service and duty have earned her unparalleled respect and admiration not only in Britain but around the world. |
| 12.00pm BST12:00 | 12.00pm BST12:00 |
| Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is recalling the two times he met the Queen. He says she gave him his only experience of dancing of around a maypole. “All of us here are new Elizabethans. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over us all. The values she embodies are about service and stability. It’s all the more important we recognise that Her Majesty occupies the most senior position in our democracy. It’s on this great day that we pay tribute to her service and humility.” | Lib Dem leader Tim Farron is recalling the two times he met the Queen. He says she gave him his only experience of dancing of around a maypole. “All of us here are new Elizabethans. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned over us all. The values she embodies are about service and stability. It’s all the more important we recognise that Her Majesty occupies the most senior position in our democracy. It’s on this great day that we pay tribute to her service and humility.” |
| Farron says on the silver jubilee the Queen gave him his first and only chance to dance around a maypole. | Farron says on the silver jubilee the Queen gave him his first and only chance to dance around a maypole. |
| Updated at 12.01pm BST | Updated at 12.01pm BST |
| 11.55am BST11:55 | 11.55am BST11:55 |
| Meanwhile, the Queen has stopped off at Newtongrange, where she is meeting well-wishers. | Meanwhile, the Queen has stopped off at Newtongrange, where she is meeting well-wishers. |
| The Queen has arrived at Newtongrange pic.twitter.com/x1NanBNaEf | The Queen has arrived at Newtongrange pic.twitter.com/x1NanBNaEf |
| Updated at 12.09pm BST | Updated at 12.09pm BST |
| 11.54am BST11:54 | 11.54am BST11:54 |
| Lobby journalists have been tweeting about MPs’ tributes. These include a joke by Harriet Harman that the Queen reigns over nearly as many people as Labour’s registered supporters, which received a hearty laugh from the Prime Minister. | Lobby journalists have been tweeting about MPs’ tributes. These include a joke by Harriet Harman that the Queen reigns over nearly as many people as Labour’s registered supporters, which received a hearty laugh from the Prime Minister. |
| PM opens HoC tributes to Queen:"Truly humbling to comprehend the scale of service the Queen has given this country.. a golden thread" | PM opens HoC tributes to Queen:"Truly humbling to comprehend the scale of service the Queen has given this country.. a golden thread" |
| Harman says number of people Queen reigns over is nearly as many as Labour’s registered supporters. | Harman says number of people Queen reigns over is nearly as many as Labour’s registered supporters. |
| "People who meet the Queen often talk about it for the rest of their lives," Cameron tells Parliament. And that is indeed how it can feel. | "People who meet the Queen often talk about it for the rest of their lives," Cameron tells Parliament. And that is indeed how it can feel. |
| PM praises Queen's fortitude in getting through New Year's Eve in Dome #Queen | PM praises Queen's fortitude in getting through New Year's Eve in Dome #Queen |
| Untrue Queen's above party politics. Inviting Con ex-PM's Thatcher & Major but not Blair & Brown to Kate-Will's wedding was partisan | Untrue Queen's above party politics. Inviting Con ex-PM's Thatcher & Major but not Blair & Brown to Kate-Will's wedding was partisan |
| 11.49am BST11:49 | 11.49am BST11:49 |
| The BT Tower in central London is currently scrolling the message “Long May She Reign”. | The BT Tower in central London is currently scrolling the message “Long May She Reign”. |
| 11.45am BST11:45 | 11.45am BST11:45 |
| Sir Gerald Howarth is leading backbench tributes. He says the Queen is the “embodiment of duty”. | Sir Gerald Howarth is leading backbench tributes. He says the Queen is the “embodiment of duty”. |
| Sir Gerald Kaufman says she leads the country in a way no president could conceivably do because she is impartial and beyond politics. “She makes it possible for us to have a stable democratic government.” | Sir Gerald Kaufman says she leads the country in a way no president could conceivably do because she is impartial and beyond politics. “She makes it possible for us to have a stable democratic government.” |
| Updated at 11.48am BST | Updated at 11.48am BST |
| 11.44am BST11:44 | 11.44am BST11:44 |
| Harman says people respect the fact that the Queen has stayed fastidiously neutral and above politics, yet at times she has played a key role in politics, like in the peace process in Northern Ireland. | Harman says people respect the fact that the Queen has stayed fastidiously neutral and above politics, yet at times she has played a key role in politics, like in the peace process in Northern Ireland. |
| She’s seen 12 PMs, though the opposition hoped she’d be on 13 by now, Harman jokes. | She’s seen 12 PMs, though the opposition hoped she’d be on 13 by now, Harman jokes. |
| 11.41am BST11:41 | 11.41am BST11:41 |
| Harriet Harman has recited words the Queen said at the age 21. “I declare before you that my whole life shall be devoted to your service.” That pledge, remarkable from a young woman, has been kept, Harman says. | Harriet Harman has recited words the Queen said at the age 21. “I declare before you that my whole life shall be devoted to your service.” That pledge, remarkable from a young woman, has been kept, Harman says. |
| 11.38am BST11:38 | 11.38am BST11:38 |
| The House laughs as Cameron says Queen never falters, even when asked to do things she’s less fond of - such as spending New Year’s Eve in the Millennium Dome. | The House laughs as Cameron says Queen never falters, even when asked to do things she’s less fond of - such as spending New Year’s Eve in the Millennium Dome. |
| “She’s been a rock of stability in an era in which our country has changed so much,” he said. “She has recognised the need to embrace change.” | “She’s been a rock of stability in an era in which our country has changed so much,” he said. “She has recognised the need to embrace change.” |
| PM: as a diplomat and ambassador for Britain it is hard to overstate what she has done for our country. | PM: as a diplomat and ambassador for Britain it is hard to overstate what she has done for our country. |
| PM: as a diplomat and ambassador for Britain it is hard to overstate what she has done for our country. | PM: as a diplomat and ambassador for Britain it is hard to overstate what she has done for our country. |
| PM: Even ardent republicans fall under her spell. | PM: Even ardent republicans fall under her spell. |
| .@David_Cameron says seeing the Queen every week is one of the most humbling and inspiring parts of his job | .@David_Cameron says seeing the Queen every week is one of the most humbling and inspiring parts of his job |
| Updated at 11.45am BST | Updated at 11.45am BST |
| 11.35am BST11:35 | 11.35am BST11:35 |
| Cameron has said it’s “typical of the Queen’s senseless sense of service” that she has asked us to treat this day as any other. | Cameron has said it’s “typical of the Queen’s senseless sense of service” that she has asked us to treat this day as any other. |
| 11.32am BST11:32 | 11.32am BST11:32 |
| MPs pay tribute to the Queen | MPs pay tribute to the Queen |
| There will now be brief speeches in the House of Commons to mark the Queen’s reign. Watch a live feed of the Commons below. | There will now be brief speeches in the House of Commons to mark the Queen’s reign. Watch a live feed of the Commons below. |
| Updated at 11.42am BST | Updated at 11.42am BST |
| 11.28am BST11:28 | 11.28am BST11:28 |
| While we speculate about the kind of conversation the Queen and Nicola Sturgeon must now be having, Mary Francis, who was one of the Queen’s aides in the late 90s, reveals another side to the monarch. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “She can be great fun. I’ve seen her on one of the last holidays on the Royal Yacht Britannia - the only time I ever saw the Queen wear trousers. She let her hair down. She told stories. She had everybody in fits of laughter so she can be very relaxed - at times.” | While we speculate about the kind of conversation the Queen and Nicola Sturgeon must now be having, Mary Francis, who was one of the Queen’s aides in the late 90s, reveals another side to the monarch. She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “She can be great fun. I’ve seen her on one of the last holidays on the Royal Yacht Britannia - the only time I ever saw the Queen wear trousers. She let her hair down. She told stories. She had everybody in fits of laughter so she can be very relaxed - at times.” |
| 11.26am BST11:26 | 11.26am BST11:26 |
| All aboard! HM The Queen waves to the crowd before boarding the royal carriage #MyBordersRailway pic.twitter.com/ksckVMc4Rg | All aboard! HM The Queen waves to the crowd before boarding the royal carriage #MyBordersRailway pic.twitter.com/ksckVMc4Rg |
| And they're off! The steam locomotive pulls out of Waverley with Duke of Edinburgh also waving to the cheering crowd. pic.twitter.com/CPRBaDyeud | And they're off! The steam locomotive pulls out of Waverley with Duke of Edinburgh also waving to the cheering crowd. pic.twitter.com/CPRBaDyeud |
| 11.22am BST11:22 | 11.22am BST11:22 |
| The Help for Heroes charity has issued a message of support to the Queen, stating: “Today marks the 23,226th day of The Queen’s reign, making her our longest serving Monarch. Respect”. The Royal British Legion also sent its congratulations to its patron. | The Help for Heroes charity has issued a message of support to the Queen, stating: “Today marks the 23,226th day of The Queen’s reign, making her our longest serving Monarch. Respect”. The Royal British Legion also sent its congratulations to its patron. |
| Today marks the 23,226th day of The Queen’s reign, making her our longest serving Monarch. #Respect @BritishMonarchy pic.twitter.com/SJiN2cdU7s | Today marks the 23,226th day of The Queen’s reign, making her our longest serving Monarch. #Respect @BritishMonarchy pic.twitter.com/SJiN2cdU7s |
| Congratulations to our Patron, HM The Queen, on becoming the longest-reigning monarch. #longestreign pic.twitter.com/kHyKS0rpsM | Congratulations to our Patron, HM The Queen, on becoming the longest-reigning monarch. #longestreign pic.twitter.com/kHyKS0rpsM |
| TV presenter Ben Fogle, a friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, added his congratulations. | TV presenter Ben Fogle, a friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, added his congratulations. |
| Congratulations #QueenElizabethII on the #LongestReign | Congratulations #QueenElizabethII on the #LongestReign |
| Updated at 11.23am BST | Updated at 11.23am BST |
| 11.19am BST11:19 | 11.19am BST11:19 |
| You can watch a video of the Queen’s arrival below, recorded by PA reporter Paul Ward. | You can watch a video of the Queen’s arrival below, recorded by PA reporter Paul Ward. |
| Flowers and a salute as the queen arrives at Waverley pic.twitter.com/04KyAhMABJ | Flowers and a salute as the queen arrives at Waverley pic.twitter.com/04KyAhMABJ |
| 11.16am BST11:16 | 11.16am BST11:16 |
| After waving to well-wishers, the Queen, dressed in a blue suit and matching hat, and the Duke of Edinburgh, boarded the steam train to Tweedbank. The train has just departed. | After waving to well-wishers, the Queen, dressed in a blue suit and matching hat, and the Duke of Edinburgh, boarded the steam train to Tweedbank. The train has just departed. |
| Queen boards train en route to Tweedbank pic.twitter.com/AMwJL4x6CK | Queen boards train en route to Tweedbank pic.twitter.com/AMwJL4x6CK |
| 11.10am BST11:10 | 11.10am BST11:10 |
| Queen arrives at Edinburgh Waverley Station | Queen arrives at Edinburgh Waverley Station |
| The royal motorcade is now arriving at Waverley Station, where Nicola Sturgeon awaits. The national youth pipe band of Scotland have started up. They previously performed for the Queen at her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. | The royal motorcade is now arriving at Waverley Station, where Nicola Sturgeon awaits. The national youth pipe band of Scotland have started up. They previously performed for the Queen at her Diamond Jubilee celebrations. |
| Updated at 11.28am BST | Updated at 11.28am BST |
| 11.08am BST11:08 | 11.08am BST11:08 |
| Esther Taylor, from Dalgety Bay, Fife, is planning to travel on the Borders railway today with her husband John to mark her 73rd birthday. She said: | Esther Taylor, from Dalgety Bay, Fife, is planning to travel on the Borders railway today with her husband John to mark her 73rd birthday. She said: |
| We weren’t lucky enough to be invited on the Queen’s train but we’ll get one of the later ones. We didn’t actually know the Queen was coming today until my brother told me so we thought we’d come to the station a bit earlier to see her off. | We weren’t lucky enough to be invited on the Queen’s train but we’ll get one of the later ones. We didn’t actually know the Queen was coming today until my brother told me so we thought we’d come to the station a bit earlier to see her off. |
| I used to live in the Borders and used the line before it closed in the sixties. It’s a lovely route, very scenic. It seems a nice way to mark the day for the Queen.” | I used to live in the Borders and used the line before it closed in the sixties. It’s a lovely route, very scenic. It seems a nice way to mark the day for the Queen.” |
| Esther Taylor is sharing a special day with the Queen, celebrating her 73rd birthday with a trip on Borders railway pic.twitter.com/Az4GyGXBEb | Esther Taylor is sharing a special day with the Queen, celebrating her 73rd birthday with a trip on Borders railway pic.twitter.com/Az4GyGXBEb |
| I’ve taken the quotes from PA. | I’ve taken the quotes from PA. |
| 10.58am BST10:58 | 10.58am BST10:58 |
| When the Queen came to the throne in 1952, the average house price was £1,888, a pint of beer cost 9p and a pint of milk 3p. Today, the average house price is £277,000, a pint of draught bitter sells for £2.97 and a pint of milk costs 43p. | When the Queen came to the throne in 1952, the average house price was £1,888, a pint of beer cost 9p and a pint of milk 3p. Today, the average house price is £277,000, a pint of draught bitter sells for £2.97 and a pint of milk costs 43p. |
| 10.52am BST10:52 | 10.52am BST10:52 |
| Martin Willis, professor of English literature at the University of Westminster, decided to calculate when the Queen would overtake Queen Victoria as longest-reigning British monarch two years ago at the request of some students. My colleague Kate Lyons spoke to him. | Martin Willis, professor of English literature at the University of Westminster, decided to calculate when the Queen would overtake Queen Victoria as longest-reigning British monarch two years ago at the request of some students. My colleague Kate Lyons spoke to him. |
| “I had been saying in my Victorian literature classes that Victoria’s reign was the longest, but that she would soon be overtaken by Queen Elizabeth. They wanted a specific time for that - quite rightly,” he said. | “I had been saying in my Victorian literature classes that Victoria’s reign was the longest, but that she would soon be overtaken by Queen Elizabeth. They wanted a specific time for that - quite rightly,” he said. |
| At the time, no specific date for the milestone had been announced, so Willis did some calculations factoring in the leap days in the reigns of both queens and arrived initially at the date of September 10. “When I noted September 10th as the date in my original calculation I had not taken account of the precise times of day [of the deaths of Victoria and King George VI],” he said. | At the time, no specific date for the milestone had been announced, so Willis did some calculations factoring in the leap days in the reigns of both queens and arrived initially at the date of September 10. “When I noted September 10th as the date in my original calculation I had not taken account of the precise times of day [of the deaths of Victoria and King George VI],” he said. |
| Willis, who is a republican and will not be celebrating today’s milestone, revised his estimate to September 9 and blogged about his experiences on academia.edu. | Willis, who is a republican and will not be celebrating today’s milestone, revised his estimate to September 9 and blogged about his experiences on academia.edu. |
| He was contacted by people from around the world, including a Canadian envoy of the queen who informed him the palace had settled on 5.30pm on September 9 and by the Palace itself. | He was contacted by people from around the world, including a Canadian envoy of the queen who informed him the palace had settled on 5.30pm on September 9 and by the Palace itself. |
| “The Palace were glad to see that my calculations matched their own and the growing interest had led them to make sure of the precise hour in case they were asked,” Willis said. | “The Palace were glad to see that my calculations matched their own and the growing interest had led them to make sure of the precise hour in case they were asked,” Willis said. |
| 10.50am BST10:50 | 10.50am BST10:50 |
| We’ve been receiving your images and stories of your encounters with the record-breaking monarch over the years. Some of them are rather lovely: others are deeply underwhelming. | We’ve been receiving your images and stories of your encounters with the record-breaking monarch over the years. Some of them are rather lovely: others are deeply underwhelming. |
| Lovely | Lovely |
| The Queen reaching out to take flowers from me in 1977 | The Queen reaching out to take flowers from me in 1977 |
| In 1977, as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations the Queen visited Derbyshire. My Mum dressed me in a red, white and blue spotty dress, wrapped some Queen Elizabeth II roses from our garden in tin foil and stood me in the crowd on the route that the Queens car was to take through Butterley, to the police HQ. As the car approached Prince Philip spotted me and pointed. The car stopped, the Queen lowered the window and took the flowers. This is the photo my mum took at the time. I was 7 years old. | In 1977, as part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations the Queen visited Derbyshire. My Mum dressed me in a red, white and blue spotty dress, wrapped some Queen Elizabeth II roses from our garden in tin foil and stood me in the crowd on the route that the Queens car was to take through Butterley, to the police HQ. As the car approached Prince Philip spotted me and pointed. The car stopped, the Queen lowered the window and took the flowers. This is the photo my mum took at the time. I was 7 years old. |
| My mum wrote to the queen and got a lovely letter back from her Lady in waiting thanking us for the roses. | My mum wrote to the queen and got a lovely letter back from her Lady in waiting thanking us for the roses. |
| Further down the road my teenage brother was waving a union flag. On the Queen's walkabout Prince Philip called out to my brother that it was a jolly nice flag, where was it from? He told him it was a tea towel from Woolworths that he'd taped to a garden cane. | Further down the road my teenage brother was waving a union flag. On the Queen's walkabout Prince Philip called out to my brother that it was a jolly nice flag, where was it from? He told him it was a tea towel from Woolworths that he'd taped to a garden cane. |
| We both had a brush with the Royals that day. | We both had a brush with the Royals that day. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By clairetweet | By clairetweet |
| 8 September 2015, 18:00 | 8 September 2015, 18:00 |
| The Queen meets our daughter | The Queen meets our daughter |
| Liverpool, 1997, accompanied by Sir Paul McCartney. | Liverpool, 1997, accompanied by Sir Paul McCartney. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By youmightthinkthat | By youmightthinkthat |
| 8 September 2015, 14:47 | 8 September 2015, 14:47 |
| Underwhelming | Underwhelming |
| A bleak affair | A bleak affair |
| It was the 70s I was about 10. Mum had heard the Queen would be driving to West Cumbria past our house that afternoon. We stood for hours waiting. The only people there. She drove past after 3 hours. We waved. She didn't look up. | It was the 70s I was about 10. Mum had heard the Queen would be driving to West Cumbria past our house that afternoon. We stood for hours waiting. The only people there. She drove past after 3 hours. We waved. She didn't look up. |
| Never again I thought. | Never again I thought. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By izzy10 | By izzy10 |
| 8 September 2015, 18:44 | 8 September 2015, 18:44 |
| Just an average night out | Just an average night out |
| We saw the Queen, slightly the worse for wear, coming out of a Mexican restaurant in Liverpool. I should clarify that we were coming out of the restaurant and slightly the worse for wear, not the Queen. She was just arriving (presumably sober) at some kind of event at the Royal Philharmonic Hall in her Rolls Royce, as we stumbled out of El Macho's whilst celebrating my mate Tony's birthday. | We saw the Queen, slightly the worse for wear, coming out of a Mexican restaurant in Liverpool. I should clarify that we were coming out of the restaurant and slightly the worse for wear, not the Queen. She was just arriving (presumably sober) at some kind of event at the Royal Philharmonic Hall in her Rolls Royce, as we stumbled out of El Macho's whilst celebrating my mate Tony's birthday. |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By PF77 | By PF77 |
| 8 September 2015, 13:32 | 8 September 2015, 13:32 |
| life changing event | life changing event |
| I was about 5 or 6 and at infant school when the teachers dragged the whole school off to 'see the queen'. We were given flags to wave and made to stand on the side of the road for what seemed like hours. Suddenly, and without warning, a limo with blacked out windows sped past, and that was that. I´ve been a convinced republican since that day | I was about 5 or 6 and at infant school when the teachers dragged the whole school off to 'see the queen'. We were given flags to wave and made to stand on the side of the road for what seemed like hours. Suddenly, and without warning, a limo with blacked out windows sped past, and that was that. I´ve been a convinced republican since that day |
| Sent via Guardian Witness | Sent via Guardian Witness |
| By stevef2 | By stevef2 |
| 8 September 2015, 13:19 | 8 September 2015, 13:19 |
| Have you encountered the Queen? Do let us know. | Have you encountered the Queen? Do let us know. |
| Updated at 11.02am BST | Updated at 11.02am BST |
| 10.39am BST10:39 | 10.39am BST10:39 |
| Queen's arrival at Waverley Station delayed | Queen's arrival at Waverley Station delayed |
| The Queen’s arrival at Waverley Station was delayed for 40 minutes due to weather conditions. She is due to travel from Balmoral by helicopter and make the final part of the journey by limousine. | The Queen’s arrival at Waverley Station was delayed for 40 minutes due to weather conditions. She is due to travel from Balmoral by helicopter and make the final part of the journey by limousine. |
| Updated at 11.00am BST | Updated at 11.00am BST |
| 10.33am BST10:33 | 10.33am BST10:33 |
| The Press Association have taken a look at the Queen’s reign in numbers: | The Press Association have taken a look at the Queen’s reign in numbers: |
| 10.29am BST10:29 | 10.29am BST10:29 |
| “Elizabeth Windsor”, a popular pseudo-Queen Twitter account which has more than 1.29m followers, has also been tweeting about today’s events. | “Elizabeth Windsor”, a popular pseudo-Queen Twitter account which has more than 1.29m followers, has also been tweeting about today’s events. |
| To do this week: 1) open a train line 2) bollock the PM 3) order more gin 4) become the longest serving monarch in British history #Busy | To do this week: 1) open a train line 2) bollock the PM 3) order more gin 4) become the longest serving monarch in British history #Busy |
| 10.27am BST10:27 | 10.27am BST10:27 |
| Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has sent his congratulations to the Queen and praised her personal commitment as Head of the Commonwealth. | Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma has sent his congratulations to the Queen and praised her personal commitment as Head of the Commonwealth. |
| As a symbol of continuity during decades of unprecedented change, and by drawing our people together in their rich diversity, Her Majesty has embodied all that is best in the Commonwealth. With vision and dedication her example has encouraged successive generations of leaders and citizens to embrace the promise of the future. | As a symbol of continuity during decades of unprecedented change, and by drawing our people together in their rich diversity, Her Majesty has embodied all that is best in the Commonwealth. With vision and dedication her example has encouraged successive generations of leaders and citizens to embrace the promise of the future. |
| In congratulating Her Majesty on this historic occasion the Commonwealth joins with a fresh sense of common purpose, committed to advancing in practical ways the shared values and principles now set out in the Commonwealth Charter.” | In congratulating Her Majesty on this historic occasion the Commonwealth joins with a fresh sense of common purpose, committed to advancing in practical ways the shared values and principles now set out in the Commonwealth Charter.” |
| The Queen has helped steer the transition of the British Empire into a looser grouping or family of 53 Commonwealth nations. | The Queen has helped steer the transition of the British Empire into a looser grouping or family of 53 Commonwealth nations. |
| #Commonwealth SG congratulates #Queen: “The Queen’s personal commitment as Head of the #Commonwealth is exemplary": http://t.co/5p6l6PrgD9 | #Commonwealth SG congratulates #Queen: “The Queen’s personal commitment as Head of the #Commonwealth is exemplary": http://t.co/5p6l6PrgD9 |
| Updated at 10.27am BST | Updated at 10.27am BST |
| 10.19am BST10:19 | 10.19am BST10:19 |
| Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is present at Waverley station and is talking to well-wishers. | Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is present at Waverley station and is talking to well-wishers. |
| 10.16am BST10:16 | 10.16am BST10:16 |
| Preparations for the Queen’s departure from Edinburgh Waverley station are well under way. The train that will take her on the newly opened Scottish Borders railway has arrived, and a crowd of wellwishers awaits. | Preparations for the Queen’s departure from Edinburgh Waverley station are well under way. The train that will take her on the newly opened Scottish Borders railway has arrived, and a crowd of wellwishers awaits. |
| 10.12am BST10:12 | 10.12am BST10:12 |
| Jess Cartner-Morley | Jess Cartner-Morley |
| As we await the Queen’s arrival at Waverley Station, our fashion editor, Jess Cartner-Morley, has written about her majesty’s previous choices in wardrobe. | As we await the Queen’s arrival at Waverley Station, our fashion editor, Jess Cartner-Morley, has written about her majesty’s previous choices in wardrobe. |
| It’s the ultimate hardworking, personal-brand-building wardrobe for the working woman, and one which masterfully retains visibility for a mature woman. And no, I’m not talking about the new season at Whistles. I’m talking about the Queen, an icon for timeless power-dressing. | It’s the ultimate hardworking, personal-brand-building wardrobe for the working woman, and one which masterfully retains visibility for a mature woman. And no, I’m not talking about the new season at Whistles. I’m talking about the Queen, an icon for timeless power-dressing. |
| Colour is the Queen’s trademark. While lesser celebrities attempt to imprint their image on the public retina by sticking to one colour – Barbie in pink, Angelina Jolie in black – the Queen owns the concept of a rainbow wardrobe. She wears pink, purple, lime, kingfisher blue, lemon yellow, crimson and emerald – and when she wears a colour, she really wears it, matching her hat, dress and skirt for maximum impact. It enables her to play the crucial element of surprise every time she makes a public appearance - “oh, look! She’s in pink!” - but to do so in a much more elegant and less painful way than by showcasing a new tattoo, or finding a new body part to bare, which is how the Miley Cyrus generation achieve pretty much the same effect. | Colour is the Queen’s trademark. While lesser celebrities attempt to imprint their image on the public retina by sticking to one colour – Barbie in pink, Angelina Jolie in black – the Queen owns the concept of a rainbow wardrobe. She wears pink, purple, lime, kingfisher blue, lemon yellow, crimson and emerald – and when she wears a colour, she really wears it, matching her hat, dress and skirt for maximum impact. It enables her to play the crucial element of surprise every time she makes a public appearance - “oh, look! She’s in pink!” - but to do so in a much more elegant and less painful way than by showcasing a new tattoo, or finding a new body part to bare, which is how the Miley Cyrus generation achieve pretty much the same effect. |
| See, by way of example, this scarlet coat and matching hat, which the Queen wore at a visit to the Sea King helicopter being flown by her grandson Prince William in 2011. It was shortly before his wedding, so in this context the Queen was widely viewed as grandmother-of-the-bride. Certainly, this outfit has more than an element of that, but the crisp ceremonial red could also be a reference to the military context. Just another day at the office for Her Majesty. | See, by way of example, this scarlet coat and matching hat, which the Queen wore at a visit to the Sea King helicopter being flown by her grandson Prince William in 2011. It was shortly before his wedding, so in this context the Queen was widely viewed as grandmother-of-the-bride. Certainly, this outfit has more than an element of that, but the crisp ceremonial red could also be a reference to the military context. Just another day at the office for Her Majesty. |
| 10.02am BST10:02 | 10.02am BST10:02 |
| Richard Nelsson has taken a look at how the Manchester Guardian reported Queen Victoria becoming the longest reigning monarch in September 1896. | Richard Nelsson has taken a look at how the Manchester Guardian reported Queen Victoria becoming the longest reigning monarch in September 1896. |
| On 23 September 1896, Queen Victoria became Britain’s longest reigning monarch. The next day, the Manchester Guardian published Congratulations To Her Majesty - reports of the demonstrations of loyalty from various dignitaries and members of the clergy. | On 23 September 1896, Queen Victoria became Britain’s longest reigning monarch. The next day, the Manchester Guardian published Congratulations To Her Majesty - reports of the demonstrations of loyalty from various dignitaries and members of the clergy. |
| Related: How the Manchester Guardian reported Queen Victoria's record reign in 1896 | Related: How the Manchester Guardian reported Queen Victoria's record reign in 1896 |
| 9.59am BST09:59 | 9.59am BST09:59 |
| Edinburgh Waverley Station live feed | Edinburgh Waverley Station live feed |
| Reuters have a live feed of the Queen arriving at Edinburgh Waverley station, which you can watch below. The video will be live until 1.30pm. | Reuters have a live feed of the Queen arriving at Edinburgh Waverley station, which you can watch below. The video will be live until 1.30pm. |
| Updated at 11.01am BST | Updated at 11.01am BST |
| 9.55am BST09:55 | 9.55am BST09:55 |
| Given the exhaustive nature of her duties over the decades, we suspect the Queen may have met some of you along the way. Have you met the Queen? If so, we want to hear your stories and see your photographs. You can share these with us using GuardianWitness and the “contribute” button at the top of this live blog. | Given the exhaustive nature of her duties over the decades, we suspect the Queen may have met some of you along the way. Have you met the Queen? If so, we want to hear your stories and see your photographs. You can share these with us using GuardianWitness and the “contribute” button at the top of this live blog. |
| Perhaps you are one of the hundreds of thousands who have attended one of her regular garden or luncheon parties at Buckingham Palace. Maybe she came to your area, to open a bit of infrastructure or visit a local site of historic interest. Or perhaps you met the Queen quite by accident, unaware that she was due to be in your town or village that day. | Perhaps you are one of the hundreds of thousands who have attended one of her regular garden or luncheon parties at Buckingham Palace. Maybe she came to your area, to open a bit of infrastructure or visit a local site of historic interest. Or perhaps you met the Queen quite by accident, unaware that she was due to be in your town or village that day. |
| 9.52am BST09:52 | 9.52am BST09:52 |
| Buckingham Palace also released another photo by McCartney on its Twitter account. The image shows the Queen sat slightly away from her desk, smiling and holding some official papers. Clear handled letter openers are among the items on her tidy desk. | Buckingham Palace also released another photo by McCartney on its Twitter account. The image shows the Queen sat slightly away from her desk, smiling and holding some official papers. Clear handled letter openers are among the items on her tidy desk. |
| This Mary McCartney photograph has been released to mark The Queen becoming the longest reigning British Monarch pic.twitter.com/ZrsUlIsB7n | This Mary McCartney photograph has been released to mark The Queen becoming the longest reigning British Monarch pic.twitter.com/ZrsUlIsB7n |
| The image was taken at Buckingham Palace in July. Her Majesty is seated at her desk, with one of her official red boxes | The image was taken at Buckingham Palace in July. Her Majesty is seated at her desk, with one of her official red boxes |
| The red box contains papers from government ministers in the UK and Commonwealth. HM has received a box on almost every day of her reign | The red box contains papers from government ministers in the UK and Commonwealth. HM has received a box on almost every day of her reign |
| Today The Queen is attending the opening celebrations for @BordersRailway, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh https://t.co/jLliZoz9im | Today The Queen is attending the opening celebrations for @BordersRailway, accompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh https://t.co/jLliZoz9im |
| Queen Victoria was the first British Monarch to travel by train pic.twitter.com/yTsD5GeiwC | Queen Victoria was the first British Monarch to travel by train pic.twitter.com/yTsD5GeiwC |
| In 1842 Queen Victoria described the journey from Slough to Paddington as 'delightful, & so quick' in her journal pic.twitter.com/ngw16FVAcB | In 1842 Queen Victoria described the journey from Slough to Paddington as 'delightful, & so quick' in her journal pic.twitter.com/ngw16FVAcB |
| Updated at 9.54am BST | Updated at 9.54am BST |
| 9.48am BST09:48 | 9.48am BST09:48 |
| Here are some archive images from past issues of the Manchester Guardian of the life and coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. | Here are some archive images from past issues of the Manchester Guardian of the life and coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. |
| Updated at 9.48am BST | Updated at 9.48am BST |
| 9.44am BST09:44 | 9.44am BST09:44 |
| David Cameron has already paid tribute to the Queen, telling Cabinet colleagues at their weekly meeting in Downing Street yesterday that she had a “remarkable record’’ and was “a symbol of Britain’s enduring spirit admired around the world”. | David Cameron has already paid tribute to the Queen, telling Cabinet colleagues at their weekly meeting in Downing Street yesterday that she had a “remarkable record’’ and was “a symbol of Britain’s enduring spirit admired around the world”. |
| Meanwhile, celebrity photographer Mary McCartney, who has captured the Queen at work to mark today’s milestone, described her as a “beacon for womankind’’. | Meanwhile, celebrity photographer Mary McCartney, who has captured the Queen at work to mark today’s milestone, described her as a “beacon for womankind’’. |
| The official photograph released today and taken by McCartney, the daughter of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, is at the top of this blog and shows the Queen sitting at her desk in Buckingham Palace, working on matters of state. “Having grown up during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II it was a thrill to meet her and a very great privilege to take her photo on this historic occasion,” McCartney said. “She is a truly inspirational person, a trailblazer and a beacon for womankind.” | The official photograph released today and taken by McCartney, the daughter of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney, is at the top of this blog and shows the Queen sitting at her desk in Buckingham Palace, working on matters of state. “Having grown up during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II it was a thrill to meet her and a very great privilege to take her photo on this historic occasion,” McCartney said. “She is a truly inspirational person, a trailblazer and a beacon for womankind.” |
| 9.41am BST09:41 | 9.41am BST09:41 |
| You can explore the Queen’s 63 year reign through our Guardian interactive. It features images from every year of the 89-year-old’s time on the throne. | You can explore the Queen’s 63 year reign through our Guardian interactive. It features images from every year of the 89-year-old’s time on the throne. |
| Related: Year-by-year: the reign of Queen Elizabeth II – interactive | Related: Year-by-year: the reign of Queen Elizabeth II – interactive |
| Updated at 9.43am BST | Updated at 9.43am BST |
| 9.37am BST09:37 | 9.37am BST09:37 |
| Staff at Waverley Station are making last-minute preparations for today’s celebrations, with workers sweeping up and broadcasters’ cables being taped down. White, gold and purple bunting has been put up ahead of Queen’s arrival. | Staff at Waverley Station are making last-minute preparations for today’s celebrations, with workers sweeping up and broadcasters’ cables being taped down. White, gold and purple bunting has been put up ahead of Queen’s arrival. |
| Bunting brightens up Waverley station pic.twitter.com/Glro9T4VBf | Bunting brightens up Waverley station pic.twitter.com/Glro9T4VBf |
| The hashtag #longestreign is the top hashtag on Twitter and it has been used by Clarence House which has issued a video of the Prince of Wales paying tribute to his mother at the Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012. | The hashtag #longestreign is the top hashtag on Twitter and it has been used by Clarence House which has issued a video of the Prince of Wales paying tribute to his mother at the Diamond Jubilee Concert 2012. |
| Today we’re thanking Her Majesty The Queen for her duty and service. #longestreign https://t.co/Ijs3FVWMPm | Today we’re thanking Her Majesty The Queen for her duty and service. #longestreign https://t.co/Ijs3FVWMPm |
| 9.33am BST09:33 | 9.33am BST09:33 |
| The only living monarch to out-reign the Queen is Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is two years younger but has reigned for six years longer. | The only living monarch to out-reign the Queen is Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is two years younger but has reigned for six years longer. |
| But Her Majesty beats him, and all other monarchs, on one matter. According to Guinness World Records, she holds the world record for most currencies featuring the same individual. | But Her Majesty beats him, and all other monarchs, on one matter. According to Guinness World Records, she holds the world record for most currencies featuring the same individual. |
| 9.26am BST09:26 | 9.26am BST09:26 |
| Guardian writer Caroline Davies is with the Queen in Scotland. Ahead of today’s events, she reports that at exactly what time Her Majesty out-reigns her great-great grandmother is not precise, due to the uncertainty of the timing of the death of her father, George VI, who died in his sleep. | Guardian writer Caroline Davies is with the Queen in Scotland. Ahead of today’s events, she reports that at exactly what time Her Majesty out-reigns her great-great grandmother is not precise, due to the uncertainty of the timing of the death of her father, George VI, who died in his sleep. |
| But Buckingham Palace has estimated, to be absolutely safe, she will pass Victoria’s 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes at around 5.30pm. That calculation assumes George VI’s death was around 1am, and factors in extra leap days in the reigns of “Elizabeth the Steadfast”, as she has been described, and the Queen Empress. | But Buckingham Palace has estimated, to be absolutely safe, she will pass Victoria’s 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes at around 5.30pm. That calculation assumes George VI’s death was around 1am, and factors in extra leap days in the reigns of “Elizabeth the Steadfast”, as she has been described, and the Queen Empress. |
| Victoria recorded the day she broke George III’s record, on 23 September 1896, in her diary, writing: “Today is the day on which I have reigned longer, by a day, than any English sovereign”. Church bells rang and bonfires blazed from hilltops in celebration. | Victoria recorded the day she broke George III’s record, on 23 September 1896, in her diary, writing: “Today is the day on which I have reigned longer, by a day, than any English sovereign”. Church bells rang and bonfires blazed from hilltops in celebration. |
| There will be no bonfires on Wednesday, however. Palace aides have reminded the press of the sensitivity of the occasion given it owes much to the premature death, at the age of 56, of the Queen’s father. “While she acknowledges it as an historic moment, it’s also for her not a moment she would personally celebrate, which is why she has been keen to convey business as usual and no fuss,” said one. | There will be no bonfires on Wednesday, however. Palace aides have reminded the press of the sensitivity of the occasion given it owes much to the premature death, at the age of 56, of the Queen’s father. “While she acknowledges it as an historic moment, it’s also for her not a moment she would personally celebrate, which is why she has been keen to convey business as usual and no fuss,” said one. |
| 9.03am BST09:03 | 9.03am BST09:03 |
| Morning summary | Morning summary |
| Good morning, and welcome to our special live coverage of the day Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning monarch in 1,000 years of British history, with 63 years and 216 days on the throne. Her Majesty will break the record at around 5.30pm – but we’ll be bringing you rolling news coverage of all of the celebratory activities throughout the day. | Good morning, and welcome to our special live coverage of the day Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning monarch in 1,000 years of British history, with 63 years and 216 days on the throne. Her Majesty will break the record at around 5.30pm – but we’ll be bringing you rolling news coverage of all of the celebratory activities throughout the day. |
| Not that there are all that many activities – the Queen is said to have wanted to mark the day in a low-key way. She was nevertheless persuaded to take a train ride to officially open the £294m Scottish Borders Railway, which actually opened last weekend. | Not that there are all that many activities – the Queen is said to have wanted to mark the day in a low-key way. She was nevertheless persuaded to take a train ride to officially open the £294m Scottish Borders Railway, which actually opened last weekend. |
| Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, she will travel the 36-mile route from Waverley station in Edinburgh to Tweedbank in a train hauled by the majestic Union of South Africa locomotive, whose sister in the LNER class A4, Mallard, holds the world record for the fastest steam locomotive. She will make a stop at Newtongrange in Midlothian, where she is expected to make a short speech. | Accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, she will travel the 36-mile route from Waverley station in Edinburgh to Tweedbank in a train hauled by the majestic Union of South Africa locomotive, whose sister in the LNER class A4, Mallard, holds the world record for the fastest steam locomotive. She will make a stop at Newtongrange in Midlothian, where she is expected to make a short speech. |
| She will then head back north to Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, where she is enjoying her annual summer stay in the Highlands. | She will then head back north to Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, where she is enjoying her annual summer stay in the Highlands. |
| South of the border, the Gloriana, the multimillion pound barge that led the Queen’s Thames diamond jubilee pageant, will join a flotilla procession down the Thames at midday. Historic vessels including the Havengore, which carried Sir Winston Churchhill’s body at his funeral, will set off from Tower Bridge, sounding their horns in tribute. A four-gun salute will be sounded as they pass HMS Belfast, with the Massey Shaw fireboat shooting jets of water into the air. The flotilla will arrivie at the Houses of Parliament 45 minutes later, they will end with a fanfare and three cheers for the Queen. | South of the border, the Gloriana, the multimillion pound barge that led the Queen’s Thames diamond jubilee pageant, will join a flotilla procession down the Thames at midday. Historic vessels including the Havengore, which carried Sir Winston Churchhill’s body at his funeral, will set off from Tower Bridge, sounding their horns in tribute. A four-gun salute will be sounded as they pass HMS Belfast, with the Massey Shaw fireboat shooting jets of water into the air. The flotilla will arrivie at the Houses of Parliament 45 minutes later, they will end with a fanfare and three cheers for the Queen. |
| In parliament, David Cameron will lead tributes to the Queen by MPs at 11.30am. | In parliament, David Cameron will lead tributes to the Queen by MPs at 11.30am. |
| Updated at 11.00am BST | Updated at 11.00am BST |