Queen Elizabeth II: Longest Reigning British Monarch Sept. 9, 2015

Summary: Queen Elizabeth II achieves a milestone at 17:30 (5:30 p.m.), Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, surpassing Queen Victoria, as longest reigning British monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II as Princess Elizabeth of York, age 7, almost two decades prior to her unexpected ascent to monarchy; 1933 oil painting by Philip Alexius de Laszlo (April 30, 1869-Nov. 22, 1937): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, at 17:30 British Summer Time (BST), Queen Elizabeth II (born April 21, 1926) is expected to claim the honor of longest-reigning British monarch.

Queen Elizabeth II began her reign Wednesday, Feb. 6, 1952, as successor to her father, King George VI (Dec. 14, 1895-Feb. 6, 1952). Her milestone surpasses the record of 63 years 7 months 2 days (June 20, 1837–Jan. 22, 1901) held by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria (May 24, 1819–Jan. 22, 1901).

Queen Victoria’s achievement toppled a previous milestone, which she noted in her journal Wednesday, Sept. 23, 1896, as the day in which she had overtaken, by one day, the record held by her grandfather, King George III (June 4, 1738–Jan. 29, 1820). King George III's reign (Oct. 25, 1760–Jan. 29, 1820) had endured for 59 years 96 days.

Queen Elizabeth II shares with Queen Victoria her unlikely ascent to queenship. She also shares with Queen Elizabeth I (Sept. 7, 1533–March 24, 1603) an unexpected path to monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth II has sailed through her monarchy with regal composure and diplomacy. Her mature bearing is evinced in childhood portraits.

The Queen is scheduled to spend her record-breaking day without fanfare. She will be staying at Balmoral Castle, the Scottish Baronial mansion in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, in the Lowlands of northeastern Scotland beloved by her as well as by Queen Victoria.

She is expected to fulfill the day’s royal engagement of officially opening the newly built Scottish Borders Railway and accompanying her husband, Prince Philip, on a steam engine traveling the entire route from Edinburgh to Galashiels and Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders.

British/American Celtic and medieval folk rock group Blackmore's Night's song, "Queen for a Day," released on their 2003 album, Ghost of a Rose, paints a wishful fairy tale of a day's queenship:

"Every wish would be granted for me

If I could be queen for a day

Oh, but to be the golden one

Oh, just for one moment in the sun."

The exact moment of Queen Elizabeth II's milestone is unknown as her father succumbed to coronary thrombosis during his sleep at age 56.

At the official moment of 17:30 BST Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II will have passed 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes of her life as Queen of the United Kingdom.

Balmoral Castle, favored by Queen Elizabeth II as well as by Queen Victoria; Aberdeenshire, North East Scotland; Sunday, June 8, 2008, 11:31: Nick Bramhall from Aberdeen UK, CC BY SA 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Queen Elizabeth II as Princess Elizabeth of York, age 7, almost two decades prior to her unexpected ascent to monarchy; 1933 oil painting by Philip Alexius de Laszlo (April 30, 1869-Nov. 22, 1937): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philip_Alexius_de_Laszlo-Princess_Elizabeth_of_York,_Currently_Queen_Elizabeth_II_of_England,1933.jpg;
via Royal Collection Trust @ https://www.rct.uk/collection/409002/queen-elizabeth-ii-1926-2022-when-princess-elizabeth-of-york

Balmoral Castle, favored by Queen Elizabeth II as well as by Queen Victoria; Aberdeenshire, North East Scotland; Sunday, June 8, 2008, 11:31: Nick Bramhall from Aberdeen UK, CC BY SA 2.0 Generic, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balmoral_Castle_2.jpg;
Nick Bramhall (Nick Bramhall), CC BY SA 2.0 Generic, via Flickr @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/53725815@N00/2564586191/