On September 9th (this very day!) Queen Elizabeth II will become Britain’s longest reigning monarch, bumping her great-great-grandmother Victoria from that top spot. (Victoria ruled for 64 years until her death in 1901.)

The Queen’s has had 12 prime minsters. So far. Her first prime minister was Sir Winston Churchill.

She is the most popular monarch — as popular now as when she first came to the throne in 1952 — and arguably the greatest monarch we Brits have ever had. How fitting that she should also be our longest reigning Monarch.

We are very, very lucky to have her.

Long live the Queen!

Photo taken of the queen on her coronation (2 June 1953)—by Cecil Beaton

Important Queen Fact you may not know: during world war II Elizabeth (then an 18 year old princess) joined the forces—and worked as a mechanic (she learned how to strip an engine) and became a truck driver. She is the only living head of state who served in world war II.

Here is a video of the coronation (complete with clipped old fashioned BBC narration… and early colour film):

And– PBS just did a great documentary which you can watch online HERE.

AND– how could I almost forget this amazing commemorative plate I came across!?