LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday became the first British monarch to reign for 70 years, beginning her platinum jubilee year despite a backlash from public view.
But this weekend's historic date will be seen with little fanfare, as the 95-year-old monarch traditionally spends the anniversary of her father's death privately.
The sovereign's record-breaking reign as head of state began when she was 25 and accompanied her husband, Prince Philip, to wildlife watching in a remote part of Kenya.
She has since become a figure of a stagnant, modern Britain in an era of rapid social and political change, and a living link to the post-war and imperial past.
The Queen - who regularly tops surveys as the most popular royal - flew on a helicopter to her sprawling Sandringham estate in eastern England on 23 January.
She was due to stay at Sandringham House with close family for Christmas and New Years, but the annual visit was postponed due to Omicron's growing cases.
Considering the previous years, no public events are expected on Sundays.
But four days of festivities are planned for early June, including a military parade and a music concert, street parties, a mass attendance picnic and a "platinum pudding contest."
Commemorative coins have been minted to mark the unprecedented milestone.