INTERNATIONAL: Since 1952, there have been seven Popes, 14 US Presidents and 13 British Prime Ministers. But there's only been one British monarch. Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for 70 years, which is longer than any British monarch in history and any current monarch in the world. She was 25 years old when she ascended to the throne.

41-Gun salutes were fired from parapet of the castle in London and Edinburgh on Monday ,February 7, by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery ,to mark the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne.

Another gun salute was fired from the Tower of London on Monday afternoon to mark the occasion of Queen Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor’s 70-year reign as Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms.

Elizabeth became the queen of Britain and more than a dozen other realms including Canada, Australia and New Zealand on the death of her father King George VI on February 6, 1952, while she was in Kenya on an international tour at aged 25.

Britain will hold four days of national events in June to mark her platinum jubilee. During her seven decades on the throne, the queen has been a symbol of stability for the country during huge social, economic and political change, including the end of the British Empire.