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Images: Britain celebrates the historic reign of Queen Elizabeth II

LONDON — It was a day for the history books. But it was not in her majesty's temperament to make much of a fuss.

On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, about 5:30 p.m., Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in Britain's proud history, dating back more than a millennium to the days when kings and queens enjoyed absolute power.

Serving as sovereign for 23,226 days (about 63 years and 7 months), according to the Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth surpassed Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother, a woman so powerful that she stamped an era with her name.

She has served longer than Henry VIII (37 years), longer than any of the various King Richards, far longer than her own father, King George VI (15 years). She certainly reigned longer than King Edward VIII, her uncle, who abdicated after less than a year so he could marry Wallis Simpson, a divorced American.

Elizabeth was there before the Beatles, there as the nation coped with postwar rationing, there during what she called the “annus horribilis” in 1992, in which the monarchy appeared threatened as three of her four children became separated or divorced. She was there in 1997, when the nation mourned the untimely death of the late Princess Diana.

Now a great-grandmother, Elizabeth has overseen a blossoming of the British monarchy, symbolized by her grandson, Prince William, whose royal wedding in 2011 was watched around the world and who has produced two popular children, including a future king.

Wednesday was a day of astonishing achievement, but the 89-year-old queen marked it as she has done so many times before: Quietly going about her business, opening a railway line, unveiling a plaque, meeting her subjects.

She did acknowledge the event, however, telling an adoring crowd at a Scottish railway station on Wednesday it was not a milestone she had sought out.

“I thank you all, and all of the many others at home and overseas, for your touching messages of great kindness,” said Elizabeth, wearing a two-tone blue coat and matching hat. “(It was) not one to which I have ever aspired.”

Elizabeth didn't say much — her “speech” lasted perhaps a minute or two. She certainly didn't boast about her longevity, reflect on her reign, or comment on the statesmen she has known, from wartime leader Winston Church to the current Conservative prime minister, David Cameron.

That just wouldn't be Elizabeth, who's modest quietude has, paradoxically, developed a grandeur all its own over the decades. In her silence lies mystery. What does she really think? Few really know and those who do aren't saying.

If the queen found it unseemly to boast of her accomplishment — her reign did, after all, begin with the abrupt death of her father — others in the British establishment showed no hesitation in praising the only monarch most Britons have ever known.

Oversize photographs of Elizabeth dominated most newspapers, with the tone set by The Daily Telegraph, which called the queen “our rock of stability for 63 years” in its headline.

“Opening a railway captures the same sense of understatement, but we should not doubt that today is a great moment in our national story,” it said.

Elizabeth came to the throne in 1952 at age 25 upon the death of her father, King George VI. Her official coronation the following year marked one of the first major public events to be televised.

She has cut back on her official travels in recent years and rarely goes overseas now, but still adheres to a busy schedule of royal duties. Her son, Prince Charles, has represented his mother at a number of occasions, and grandsons William and Prince Harry have also moved into much more prominent royal roles, as has William's wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.

But it is the queen who seems to command the most affection as Britons celebrate her unique role in national life. In Parliament on Wednesday, the prime minister led a series of affectionate tributes.

“The reign of Queen Elizabeth has been a golden thread running through three postwar generations, and she's presided over more than two thirds of our history as a full democracy,” Cameron said. “Her selfless sense of service and duty have earned her unparalleled respect and admiration, not only in Britain but around the world.”

That thought was echoed as well on the other side of the globe.

“Hers has been a long, rich life of service to her country, to the Commonwealth,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told lawmakers. “We wish her and her loving, remarkable husband health and happiness in the years ahead.”

This photo made available on Tuesday Sept. 8, 2015, shows Britain's Queen Elizabeth II taken July 2015 and released by Buckingham Palace to mark the Queen becoming the longest reigning British monarch. The photograph, by Mary McCartney, shows The Queen seated at her desk in her private audience room at Buckingham Palace in London, with one of her official red boxes which she has received almost every day of her reign and contains important papers from government ministers in the United Kingdom and her Realms and from her representatives across the Commonwealth and beyond. (Mary McCartney/Queen Elizabeth II via AP)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, on the day she becomes Britain's longest reigning monarch, arrives with her husband, Prince Philip, to inaugurate the new multi million pound Scottish Borders Railway, at Tweedbank, Scotland, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months.(Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, left, as she arrives at the opening ceremony for the Borders Railway route at Tweedbank station, Scotland, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. Danny Lawson / PA via AP)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, on the day she becomes Britain's longest reigning monarch, accepts flowers from onlookers as she arrives to inaugurate the new multi million pound Scottish Borders Railway, at Tweedbank, Scotland, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months.(Andrew Milligan/Pool via AP)
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip, sit with Scotland's First Secretary Nicola Sturgeon, left as they travel on a steam train en route to Edinburgh in Scotland Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen on Wednesday became the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. (Andrew Milligan/PA Pool via AP)
A Royal River Salute of boats passes the Houses of Parliament, to mark Britain's Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history, in London, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has on Wednesday become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A Royal River Salute of boats passes the Houses of Parliament, to mark Britain's Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history, in London, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has on Wednesday become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A Royal River Salute of boats passes the Houses of Parliament, to mark Britain's Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history, in London, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has on Wednesday become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
A Royal River Salute sails under Tower Bridge to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning British monarch, in London, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen on Wednesday became the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES
Lyra Crew waits in the crowd for the arrival of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to the opening ceremony for the Borders railway route at Tweedbank station, Scotland, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
Visitors view a display of photographs in an exhibition entitled Long to Reign Over Us photographic exhibition at Buckingham Palace in London to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning British monarch, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63-years and seven months.(Jonathan Brady / PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES
Visitors view a display of photographs in an exhibition entitled Long to Reign Over Us photographic exhibition at Buckingham Palace in London to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning British monarch, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63-years and seven months.(Jonathan Brady / PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES
Visitors view a display of photographs in an exhibition entitled Long to Reign Over Us photographic exhibition at Buckingham Palace in London to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning British monarch, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63-years and seven months.(Jonathan Brady / PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT - NO SALES - NO ARCHIVES
Members of the public await in the crowd for the arrival of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II to the opening ceremony for the Borders railway route at Tweedbank station, Scotland, Wednesday Sept. 9, 2015. The Queen has today become the longest ever reigning monarch in British history surpassing Queen Victoria who served for 63 years and seven months. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
FILE - This is an Aug. 4, 1987 file photo of Diana, Princess of Wales, left, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as they smile to well-wishers outside Clarence House in London. (AP Photo/Martin Cleaver, File)
FILE - This is a May 15, 1954 file photo of Prince Charles and Princess Anne with their parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their return from the Commonwealth tour. (PA, File via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
FILE - This is a Dec. 21, 1984 file photo of from left to right, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince and Princess of Wales after the christening ceremony of Prince Harry in London. (PA, File via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
FILE - This is an April 20, 2006 file photo of Queen Elizabeth II sitting in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace in London looking at some of the cards which have been sent to her for her 80th birthday. (Fiona Hanson/PA, File via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE
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