Queen Elizabeth II becomes first British monarch to sit on the throne for 25,000 days
Queen Elizabeth II is to reach the unprecedented milestone of reigning as British monarch for 25,000 days.
On 6 February 1952, a 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth was appointed Queen following the unexpected death of her father, King George VI.
In 2015, the sovereign became the longest-reigning British monarch in history, overtaking a record previously set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who sat on the throne for 63 years and 216 days.
Queen Victoria presided over Britain as monarch for 23,226 days, 16 hours and 30 minutes.
On Saturday 18 July, Queen Elizabeth II will have sat on the throne for grand total of 25,000 days.
The Queen will spend the day at Windsor Castle, where she, the Duke of Edinburgh and the “HMS Bubble” of staff have been staying throughout lockdown.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace said the 94-year-old will spend the day “privately”.
When she became Britain’s longest-serving monarch five years ago, the Queen said the record was “not one to which I have ever aspired”.
“Inevitably a long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception,” she said.
The Queen’s 25,000-day milestone will fall a day after Captain Sir Tom Moore’s knighthood investiture at Windsor Castle, which is taking place on Friday 17 July.
It is believed Captain Sir Tom’s knighthood will be the first to take place outside, as it is scheduled to take place on the castle quadrangle.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have both celebrated birthdays at Windsor Castle during lockdown, on 21 April and 10 June respectively, with Prince Philip turning 99.
Having celebrated her Sapphire Jubilee in 2017 to mark 65 years on the throne, the Queen is two years away from her Platinum Jubilee in 2022, which would mark seven decades as sovereign.
Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012, which marked the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne, was marked with a flotilla of hundreds of vessels down the River Thames.
According to the Guinness World Records, the parade broke the record for the largest ever pageant of boats.
The Queen has delivered two rare televised addresses throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the first of which was delivered to provide reassurance for the nation amid the crisis.
“We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again,” she said.
On 8 May, the monarch gave a second speech in honour of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, repeating the message that resounded upon the end of the Second World War in Europe: “Never give up, never despair”.
The Queen is currently the longest-reigning monarch in the world.
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