The Elizabethan age: After 63 years on throne, queen becomes longest-reigning British monarch

Queen Elizabeth, who ascended the throne aged just 25 as her exhausted country struggled to recover from the ravages of World War Two, makes history today when she becomes Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

At about 4.30pm GMT, Elizabeth, who now aged 89 is also the nation’s oldest ever monarch, will surpass the 63 years, 7 months, 2 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes that her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria spent on the throne.

British Prime Minister David Cameron led tributes to the queen.

“Over the last 63 years, Her Majesty has been a rock of stability in a world of constant change and her selfless sense of service and duty has earned admiration not only in Britain, but right across the globe,” Cameron said.

“It is only right that today we should celebrate her extraordinary record, as well as the grace and dignity with which she serves our country.”

Those close to the queen say she is fairly blase about the milestone, believing it represents little more than the fact she has lived for a long time.