Queen Elizabeth Celebrates Diamond Jubilee Monday

By: Pat Prescott
02/06/2012 10:18 PM ET

Queen Elizabeth – Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her 60 years on the throne with her Diamond Jubilee anniversary.

At 25-years-old Elizabeth became the queen of England when her father passed away on February 6th, in 1952. When she returned home from a visit to a remote Kenyan village she was greeted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Though most of the major festivities won’t come till later this summer, the queen took the time to write a letter of acknowledgment and thanks to the citizens for their support over the years.

In the statement released by Buckingham Palace she says, “I am writing to thank you for the wonderful support and encouragement that you have given to me and Prince Philip over these years. In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope that we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighborliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign.”

The only other queen to have such a long reign was Queen Victoria when her 63 years of service ended in 1897. And at the age 85, Queen Elizabeth is the oldest living monarch to ever hold the throne.

“Queen Elizabeth II rates among the best, in fact, better than the best,” Dickie Arbiter, former press secretary to the Queen, told ABC News.

“The queen doesn’t change.  The queen adapts, and that’s why it survives,” he said of the monarch.

Source: Queen Elizabeth