On Wednesday afternoon, with 23,226 days under her belt, Queen Elizabeth II will become the longest-reigning monarch in British history when she passes the record set by Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother.
The 89-year-old became queen at the age of 25, and has reigned for 63 years and seven months. She still rides to the annual State Opening of Parliament in a coach that belonged to Victoria, who was crowned at the age of 18. Elizabeth II has no intention of marking the milestone in any way — she will be on official business in Scotland, opening the Scottish Borders Railway with the Duke of Edinburgh — but there will be tributes across the UK, including a procession of historic vessels between the Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament on the River Thames.
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