On February 6, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain marked the 66th anniversary of accession to the throne. Gun salutes rang out across the UK’s capital to celebrate this special day, with 41 volleys fired in Green Park at noon. Additionally, a 62-gun salute was staged at the Tower of London. The Queen herself is marking the milestone privately at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk, honoring the memory of her father. Elizabeth is the longest-reigning sovereign in British history, becoming queen on February 6, 1952 aged just 25, on the death of her father King George VI. Yet the coronation of Elizabeth was held on June 2, 1953. It will be recalled that the queen has already set the record as the longest-reigning monarch in September 2015, and last year she celebrated the Sapphire Jubilee, marking 65 years of her reign. Before her, the only monarch who celebrated the Diamond Jubilee – 60 years on the throne – was Queen Victoria.
