(CMR) Today, Queen Elizabeth II (95) marks 70 years on the British throne. She reportedly kicked off celebrations for the 70th anniversary of her accession to the British throne by inviting local community groups to her Sandringham residence in the East of England on Saturday.
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor began her reign when her father, King George VI, died on February 6, 1952.
The Queen's platinum jubilee is a first for a British monarch. However, she is currently the fourth-longest-reigning monarch in world history, behind Louis XIV of France, Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, and Johann II of Lichtenstein, according to The New York Times. She will need to reign for 92 more days to pass Johann.
Queen Elizabeth has continued to carry out official duties well into her 90s; however, she has been seen in public a few times since she spent a night in the hospital last October for an unspecified ailment and was then instructed by doctors to rest.
Buckingham Palace on Friday released footage showing the queen viewing items from previous royal jubilees.
Ironically Queen Elizabeth was not destined to be monarch at her birth and became queen only because her uncle Edward VIII abdicated to be with American divorcee Wallis Simpson.
She has met 13 American presidents and been served by 14 prime ministers.
“She takes her duties seriously, but she doesn't take herself very seriously,” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told BBC. At the same time, Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised her “unwavering dedication to this nation.”
Public celebrations of the queen's Platinum Jubilee will be held in June.
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