United Kingdom Celebrates Queen’s 60 Years on the Throne
Feb. 6, 2012
The diamond jubilee celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years on the throne began with gun salutes around the United Kingdom, including a 41-gun salute in London’s Hyde Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London. Elizabeth ascended to the British throne on the death of her father, George VI, on Feb. 6, 1952. Queen Elizabeth is the head of state of the United Kingdom as well as 16 other countries, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, wave to a joyous crowd in London during the queen's Golden Jubilee, which marked the 50th anniversary of her reign. AP/Wide World
Elizabeth will be 86 years old on April 21. Her mother, Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, lived to be 101.
Queen Elizabeth II has reined longer than any other British monarch with the exception of her great-great-grandmother, Victoria, who ruled for 63 years, from 1837 to 1901. Victoria’s diamond jubilee was officially celebrated on June 22, 1897. At the time, the British Empire was near its zenith, covering some 13 million square miles (33.7 million square kilometers), almost a quarter of Earth’s total land area. Victoria ruled over one-fifth of the world’s population.
Victoria was queen of the United Kingdom for 63 years. During her reign, often called the Victorian Age, the United Kingdom built a huge empire and became the world's richest country. Bridgeman/Art Resource
Additional World Book articles
- Kings and queens of the United Kingdom
- Philip, Prince
- United Kingdom, history of (The Victorian Age–1840’s-about 1900)
- The Queen Mother: Creator of the Modern Monarchy (a special report)
