Queen Elizabeth II today becomes the longest-reigning Monarch in British history. She has been on the throne for 63 years. Or to be more precise, 23,226 days and 16 hours as she eclipses the previous record-holder, her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.
Speaking to the crowd, the Queen, pictured in Tweedbank, thanked well-wishers for their messages of support
The British Queen, Elizabeth II today, surpasses the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria to become Britain's longest-reigning monarch. She has been on the throne for 63 years. Or to be more precise, 23, 226 days and 16 hours.
The Queen was seen speaking to the Duke of Edinburgh before she spoke at the opening at Tweedbank Station today
But rather than mark the historic day with high-profile celebrations, it is business as usual for Her Majesty as she carries out official duties in Scotland. With Prince Philip by her side, the Queen was greeted by cheering crowds as she arrived in the village of Tweedbank to open the new £294million Scottish Borders Railway.
Queen Elizabeth II delivering hee speech in Tweedbank today
In a speech to hundreds of well-wishers, the monarch thanked supporters for their 'touching messages of great kindness' but said the 'milestone' was not one 'to which she has ever aspired'.
The exact moment the Queen eclipses Queen Victoria's milestone is not known as there is no precise time for the death of the Queen's beloved father, George VI, who died in the early hours of February 6 1952.
Queen's Coronation on June 2, 1952, Elizabeth II is pictured wearing the St Edward Crown
and carrying the Sceptre and the Rod after her coronation in Westminster Abbey
But Buckingham Palace has calculated that at around 5.30pm the Queen will make history as she will have reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and roughly 30 minutes - a few minutes longer than Queen Victoria.
The Queen made no mention of Queen Victoria in her address today, but she was wearing her great-great grandmother's diamond bow brooch, which has been passed down through the generations.
Head of the Armed Forces, The Queen is seen inspecting the 1st and 2nd Battalions Coldstream Guards, at Windsor, on June 22, 1964