LONDON — She has lived longer than any of her predecessors, seen a dozen prime ministers come and go, and presided over six decades of British history, from postwar recovery to the death of Princess Diana and terrorist attacks on London.
Now, Queen Elizabeth II, 89, is set to become the longest reigning monarch in British history. On Wednesday, she beats the record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria — 63 years and 7 months — more than a century ago. Only four other British kings and queens have reigned at least 50 years.
She acceded to the throne in February 1952 and was crowned in 1953, at a time when television was a novelty and British colonies were still dotted around the world.
“You have to be a certain age to remember a time when she wasn’t the queen,” said royal historian and commentator Hugo Vickers.
Palace officials say there will be no fanfare Wednesday. They say the queen wanted the occasion to be a low-key affair and that the day will be “business as usual.”
