Britain's oldest serving monarch

Queen Elizabeth II became the oldest serving monarch of the UK at today, beating her great great grandmother, Queen Victoria. Here is a list of facts to mark the occasion:

• Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 and lived for 81 years and 243 days.
• The Queen will have to wait until 9 September 2015 to beat Victoria's as the longest-reigning British monarch, 64 years.
• The current Queen has been "active" longer, as Victoria went into a decade of retreat from public life after the death of her husband Albert.
• Elizabeth II took the throne in 1952. She is one of only five kings or queens since the 1066 Norman Conquest to reign for more than half a century.
• Prince Charles is closing in on the longest heir-in-waiting. Victoria's son became King Edward VII in 1901, aged just over 59 years and two months. Prince Charles turned 59 on November 14.
• Buckingham Palace have always hinted that The Queen has no intention of abdicating to make way for Charles. Her mother lived until the age of 101 so he mighty have a while to wait!
• The Queen's full title is: 'Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland'
• Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom's Head of State. She is Queen of 16 former British colonies and the British Commonwealth: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Greneda, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and Saint Kitts and Nevis.
• During her reign, The Queen has undertaken over 256 official overseas visits to 129 different countries.
• The Queen's made her first Christmas address to the nation in her coronation year and this year will mark the 50th year it has been televised.