Kuwait City - Arab Today
Queen Elizabeth II will be marked as the longest-reigning monarch in the UK on Wednesday, 9 September, as she will pass the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. The 89 year-old Queen who celebrated her diamond jubilee in 2012, had by now reigned England by for 63 years and seven months, calculated at 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes since February 1952, thus exceeding the time period of Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years and 216 days, from 20 June 1837 to 22 January 1901.
According to royal sources, the Queen doesn't want any fuss or celebrations made over the occasion, noting that she will spend the day on official duty and follow her daily schedule normally. Historians agree that UK's conditions during the two queens eras were different. Queen Victoria had ruled an empire at its prime stretching from east to west, while the time of Queen Elizabeth, who ruled at the age of 25 directly after World War II, had seen several changes as colonialism was ended in several parts in Asia and Africa.
Currently, the Queen only plays an honorary role in accordance with royal British protocols. She is also the longest serving monarch in 15 Commonwealth member-states
Source: KUNA