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Queen becomes oldest British monarch

Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s oldest-ever monarch on Thursday, beating the record of Queen Victoria.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reads her annual address at the House of Lords in London on Nov. 6, during the State Opening of Parliament. The Queen became the country's oldest monarch Thursday, overtaking her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reads her annual address at the House of Lords in London on Nov. 6, during the State Opening of Parliament. The Queen became the country's oldest monarch Thursday, overtaking her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.Steve Parsons / AFP - Getty Images file
/ Source: The Associated Press

Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s oldest-ever monarch on Thursday, beating the record of Queen Victoria.

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

Buckingham Palace, calculating longevity down to the hour, said Elizabeth would move past Victoria at about 1700 GMT Thursday.

The queen is also within eight years of breaking Victoria’s record for the longest reign. She would pass that milestone on Sept. 9, 2015.

The queen is now the fourth longest-reigning monarch. She would overtake King Henry III on March 5, and King George III in 2012.