British Queen completes 60 years on throne

Queen Elizabeth II - the present constitutional monarch of Britain- completed six decades of accession to the throne on Monday thus being the second longest-serving British monarch after Queen Victoria.

On Monday, she thanked the public for the "wonderful support and encouragement" that they had given to her and Prince Philip over these years adding that the two were also "deeply moved to receive so many kind messages" about the diamond jubilee.

The message also said that in this special year, she dedicates herself anew to public service hoping that they will all "be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness".

She also expressed her thanks for "the great advances that have been made since 1952" besides looking forward to the future "with clear head and warm heart" as everyone joins together in their celebrations.

She was honored with a 41-gun salute in London´s Hyde Park and a 21-gun salute in Edinburgh, Scotland.

To commemorate this historic occasion, the royal household launched a special new website. Called 'thediamondjubilee.org ', the website enables the people to pour in messages for the Queen apart from information and photos of her.

Celebrations and festivities marking her Diamond Jubilee which officially began on Monday are likely to continue through June.

The main programme will take place from June 2 to June 5 with elaborate celebratory activities throughout the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth.

While on the first day of the extravaganza, the queen will attend the Epsom Derby, there will be 'The Big Jubilee Lunch' on June 3 wherein people will be encouraged to share lunch with neighbours and friends as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Apart from this, there will be 'The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant', which will take place on the Thames and will consist of up to 1,000 boats assembled from across the UK, the Commonwealth and around the world. At them same time, the Queen will travel in the Royal Barge which will lead the flotilla.

The four-day long events will also comprise of a 'BBC Concert at Buckingham Palace', 'The Queen´s Diamond Jubilee Beacons' during which a network of 2,012 Beacons will be lit by communities and individuals throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Commonwealth, and 'Service of Thanksgiving and Carriage Procession' at St Paul's Cathedral.

Queen Elizabeth II was born in London and her father acceded to the throne as George VI in 1936 on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. However, she began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, in which she served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service

It was in 1952 during her tour in Kenya that her father died and she became Head of the Commonwealth and queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries. She was crowned as Elizabeth II in 1953 with her coronation service being the first to be televised. In 1947 she married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she has four children.

The Queen will eclipse Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901, on September 10 September, 2015 thereby becoming the longest-serving monarch of the British royal household.