Queen reigns as oldest British monarch

Last Updated: Thursday, December 20, 2007 | 12:16 PM ET

CBC News

Queen Elizabeth has become the oldest British monarch ever, ousting Queen Victoria from the long-held spot.

The Queen, shown in November, was born on April 21, 1926.
(Alastair Grant/Associated Press)

The 81-year-old moved past Queen Victoria at around noon ET or 5 p.m. local time, according to Buckingham Palace.

Victoria, who was born on May 24, 1819, lived for 81 years and 243 days.

However, Victoria, who came to the throne at the young age of 18 and held it until her death in 1901, still holds the record for the longest reign.

Queen Elizabeth ranks as the fourth longest-reigning British monarch and still has eight years until she breaks that record.

The Queen pets a group of corgis as she leaves the Alberta legislature in 2005. She ranks as the fourth longest-reigning British monarch.
(Paul Chiasson/Canadian Press)

First, she will have to overtake King Henry III on March 5 and King George III in 2012.

She would become the longest-reigning British monarch on Sept. 9, 2015.

She was born on April 21, 1926, in London.

Her coronation came in 1953, at the age of 27, after her father died of cancer.