Queen Elizabeth Becomes Longest Reigning British Monarch While in Scotland

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has become the country’s longest reigning monarch, and she spent the day in Scotland where she undertook one public engagement.

Joined by the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen officially opened the new Scottish Borders railway line that creates a train link from Edinburgh to the Borders, with the new station located in Tweedbank. She and the Duke took the Union of South Africa steam train from Edinburgh to Tweedbank, departing just before 11am, with Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Upon their arrival in the Borders, a rapturous crowd cheered and shouted congratulations to the Queen. “I thank you all, and the many others at home and overseas, for your touching messages of great kindness,” the Queen, dressed in a turquoise coat with darker blue trimming and a matching hat, said in her short speech officially opening the railway, also saying the milestone was “not one to which I have ever aspired.”

Queen Elizabeth surpassed the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, at around 5:30pmBST, having achieved a reign of over 23,226 days, 16hrs and approximately 30minutes.

Her reign has seen 12 British Prime Ministers, 12 US Presidents, the end of the Soviet Union, the change from Empire to Commonwealth and visits to 129 countries.

A photograph of Queen Elizabeth released by Buckingham Palace to mark the milestone, taken by Mary McCartney in July

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Scotland, The Duke of Edinburgh.

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