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At 81, queen is comfy on throne

Now Britain's oldest-ever monarch, Queen Elizabeth II has no intention of retiring.

LONDON - Queen Elizabeth II became Britain's oldest-ever monarch Thursday, reaching a new milestone in a job she has held for more than a half century - one that comes with luxurious accommodation, long hours and little chance of retirement.

Elizabeth, 81, passed the mark set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

The queen spent the day working quietly at home on royal paperwork.

Royal historian Robert Lacey said the milestone would likely bring the queen "some quiet satisfaction."

"She is a modest person, never one for blowing her own trumpet, and I think that is one of the reasons for her success and longevity," Lacey said.

Elizabeth is one of only five kings or queens since the 1066 Norman Conquest to reign for more than half a century. The fourth-longest-reigning English monarch, she would overtake King Henry III on March 5, and King George III in 2012.

On Sept. 9, 2015, she would pass Queen Victoria, who ruled for almost 64 years, as the longest-reigning British monarch.

Lacey said the queen could take credit for steering the monarchy through choppy waters in the late 20th century, when public approval plummeted after the divorces of three of Elizabeth's four children and the death of Princess Diana.

"Ten years ago the monarchy was in a very parlous state," Lacey said. Its survival "is down to the steadiness of the queen."

The antimonarchist group Republic urged the queen to mark the milestone by retiring. Spokesman Graham Smith said her retirement would allow Britain to debate reforming its constitution to create a new head of state.

"Elizabeth Windsor is now 81, well past the normal age for retirement," Smith said. "Over the next few years question marks are going to be raised about her continuing ability to perform her official duties. It would be in her interests and those of the country if she stepped down and enjoyed a peaceful retirement."

Buckingham Palace has long said that the queen has no intention of abdicating in favor of her son. She may have many years left in the job. Her mother, the Queen Mother Elizabeth, died in 2002 at the age of 101.

Queen Elizabeth II

1926 The queen is born.

1947 She marries Prince Philip.

1952 She takes the throne.

1992 The year she famously dubbed "annus horribilis:" The marriages of three of her four children broke down and a fire destroyed part of Windsor Castle.

By the numbers 

129 countries, she's visited

10 prime ministers she's given regular Tuesday evening audiences, beginning with Winston Churchill

[Last modified December 21, 2007, 01:26:52]