Britain’s Oldest Reigning Monarch Turns Eighty-Two

Queen Elizabeth II has much to celebrate as she turned eighty-two today. Last December, she surpassed her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, as the oldest reigning monarch on the British throne. And this past November, she and the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, quite a feat even for a monarch.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born at 2:40am in 1926 at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. Her parents, the Duke and Duchess of York, later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth after the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936.

Elizabeth’s reign has lasted through ten British Prime Ministers, the latest being Gordon Brown. The queen has dedicated herself completely to her role and she surmised her monumental undertaking many years ago whilst still a princess at the age of twenty-one and said, "I declare before you all that my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong."

Photo: Press Association

Viscount Severn Will Wear Replica Christening Gown On Saturday

On Tuesday, the Press Secretary to the Queen released the date and place for Viscount Severn’s christening. He will be christened on Saturday at Windsor. James will be the first to wear a replica, commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II, of the 1841 Honiton lace christening gown created for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, The Princess Royal (Victoria). The original christening gown has been preserved and it will no longer be used for royal christenings.

The Royalist article, Palace Announces Christening Date For Sophie's Baby James, can be read here.

The Buckingham Palace press release, Announcement of Arrangements for the Christening of Viscount Severn, can be read here.

Elizabeth II Reaches Another Milestone

On Saturday, Queen Elizabeth II will surpass Queen Victoria as the oldest reigning monarch. A trivia laden article written by Andrew Pierce for Telegraph.co.uk titled
"Queen soon to be Britain's oldest monarch" relates how the queen has celebrated several other significant milestones such as her diamond wedding anniversary, but will not pass Victoria’s record of reigning sixty-three years until 2015.

Another article saluting the Queen’s oldest monarch milestone, written by the Daily Mail's Robert Hardman, "A very unlikely revolutionary: how the Queen has subtly changed the Monarchy to suit modern Britain," can be read here.

From Telegraph TV, Queen Becomes Britain's Oldest Monarch, can be viewed here.

Lord Nicholas Windsor and Paola Welcome Baby Albert

According to the columnist Richard Kay from The Daily Mail, Paola gave birth to Albert, twelve days ago at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Lord Nicholas is the third and youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. He and Paola named Albert after the consort of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert. The baby is the eight grandchild for the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

*UPDATE* The full name and birth date of Albert, the son of Lord Nicholas, is Albert Louis Philip Edward and he was born on September 22, 2007.