Queen Elizabeth II has become the oldest monarch after the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia yesterday.
King Abdullah was ninety years old and has been in hospital since New Year's Eve with suspected pneumonia, and has been on the throne almost a decade.
Queen Elizabeth is now the oldest monarch at the age of eighty eight. She was born in April 1926 and took the throne when she was just twenty five.
And while she may be the oldest serving monarch she is not the longest serving, she is second to King Rama IX of Thailand, who has been on the throne for sixty eight years.
However, Queen Elizabeth II looks set to match Queen Victoria as the longest serving UK monarch, as the 6th of February will mark her sixty third year as Queen.
Queen Victoria spent 63 years and 216 days as Queen, and Elizabeth II will match and surpass that over the next twelve months.
While Queen Elizabeth II is still the main focus of the UK royal family, she has scaled back her engagements over the last couple of years.
King Abdullah died in hospital last night and will be replaced on the throne by his half-brother Prince Salman, who is seventy nine. Prince Salman has been taking on more of the royal responsibilities while King Abdullah had been ill.
Prince Charles is expected to attend the funeral later today. It is unknown if the Queen will attend.
Speaking about King Abdullah's death, David Cameron said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Majesty King Abdullah bin Abd Al Aziz Al Saud."
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