Queen Elizabeth II has now been the UK’s monarch for 70 years — the head of state for the UK and many of the Commonwealth countries.
She is the first British monarch to reach the 70-year milestone and a four-day holiday weekend has been filled to honour the occasion of the platinum jubilee, which begins in the UK on Thursday.
What are the official platinum jubilee events?
Trooping the Colour: The queen’s birthday parade will be held on Thursday at 11am. During the queen’s birthday parade, a royal gun salute will be fired.
When the royal party makes its traditional appearance on the balcony, a fly-past of planes from the queen’s rule will roar overhead.
Platinum jubilee beacons: The UK’s long tradition of celebrating royal milestones with the lighting of beacons will continue for the platinum jubilee.
The beacon chain, once used as a means of communication, is now a symbol of unity.
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Workers add the final parts to the Tree of Trees sculpture, part of the Queen's Green Canopy Project. The sculpture, which will stand outside Buckingham Palace for the duration of the queen's platinum jubilee celebrations, consists of 350 native British trees planted in aluminium pots. Getty Images -
Thomas Heatherwick, designer of the Tree of Trees sculpture, poses in front of Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Royal superfan John Loughrey jumps for joy on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London, where he is already camped out for a prime position to view the platinum jubilee celebrations. PA -
Model-maker Paula Young places a Lego replica of Queen Elizabeth II in a display replicating the royal balcony scene at Buckingham Palace for the Legoland platinum jubilee display in Windsor. PA -
British Union flags are on display at Kirby Estate in London. EPA -
The gold state coach passes the Houses of Parliament during an early morning rehearsal through London for Sunday's platinum jubilee pageant. PA -
Workers hang bunting outside a hotel in central London. Reuters -
Voyager and Rivet Joint aircraft perform in the sky for the queen's platinum jubilee fly-past rehearsal in Sleaford. EPA -
A view from a cockpit during the rehearsal. PA -
Royal Marines drummers play for residents of Church Hill near Birmingham. The nationwide celebrations will mark the 70th anniversary of the queen's accession to the throne. PA -
The 15-kilogram Queen's Platinum Jubilee coin, made with fine gold, is the largest coin made by the Royal Mint, produced in celebration of her 70-year milestone. PA -
Chelsea Pensioners Ted Fell, left, and George Reid pose as they view 'The Queen's Platinum Jubilee' display by Simon Lycett at Chelsea Flower Show in London. Reuters -
Union flags are displayed along The Mall in London. AP -
Fiona Baxter makes Union flags at the Flying Colours Flagmakers factory in Knaresborough. Getty Images -
People stand underneath Union Jack flags hanging in Covent Garden, London. Reuters -
Construction work at Buckingham Palace in London before Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee. EPA -
A display paying homage to Queen Elizabeth II is shown outside the Sloane Club in London, as part of 'Chelsea in Bloom'. AP -
One of eight London buses given a purple makeover to celebrate the jubilee makes its way across central London. PA -
Jemma Melvin poses in Fortnum and Mason, central London, with her lemon Swiss roll trifle that beat 5,000 desserts to become the official pudding of the jubilee celebrations. PA -
A man has his photograph taken next to a life-size cardboard cut-out of Queen Elizabeth II displayed in a shop in Windsor. Getty Images -
Flags designed by British fashion illustrator Anjelica Roselyn on display across South Molton Street in Mayfair to celebrate the jubilee. PA -
People pass a shop window display commemorating the platinum jubilee in Windsor. Getty Images -
A knitted figure of the queen is displayed on top of a post box in Wallasey. Reuters -
Temporary structures are built around Buckingham Palace for the celebrations. Reuters -
Linda Bainbridge and Miyuki Griffin put finishing touches to The Crown, Orb and Sceptre exhibit as part of 'A Festival of Flowers' at Salisbury Cathedral. PA -
A glittering banner stretches across Carnaby Street shopping district in London. EPA -
Lewis Wilde from Selkirk tests a gas-fuelled beacon he has made to signal the start of the celebrations, which will culminate with a four-day bank holiday in June. PA -
The gold state coach stands in the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. The coach will be used as part of the jubilee celebrations. Getty Images -
Union flags decorate a street Mayfair, London. EPA -
Puppet-maker Louise Jones puts the finishing touches to her group of corgis, each based on past and present royal corgis, for the platinum jubilee pageant. AP Photo -
Grounds staff change bedding plants outside Buckingham Palace. Getty Images -
A member of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets holding the Commonwealth of Nations' Globe on its arrival at the Tower of London. It will be on display until June 2, when it will be used to light Buckingham Palace's principal beacon. PA -
Power stilt artist Bouncy Bruce performs at the final unveiling of the platinum jubilee pageant at Bafta in London's West End. Reuters -
Workers place a decorative crown at the top of a flag pole facing Buckingham Palace. Reuters -
Abbey Marshall Leticia Edwards looks out at the view from the Henry VII roof of Westminster Abbey, which will be open to the public for the first time for guided tours, as part of its plans to celebrate the jubilee. PA -
Members of the Household Cavalry during a musical ride rehearsal at Hyde Park in London for the Royal Windsor horse show, as part of the jubilee celebration. Reuters -
A gardener sows seeds into the moat surrounding the Tower of London that will grow into a 'superbloom' display to celebrate the jubilee later this year. Reuters -
Gilder Claire Wright applies gold paint by hand as she works to produce a platinum jubilee commemorative beaker for Goviers, as part of its Royal Commemoratives collection. AFP -
Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment take part in the Maj Gen's Inspection in Hyde Park. The ceremonial unit must pass the inspection to take part in state duties. EPA
Service of thanksgiving: A service of thanksgiving takes place at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.
The Derby at Epsom Downs: Members of the royal family will attend the races in Epsom, south-east England, on Saturday.
Platinum party at the Palace: Some of the world’s biggest names join the musical tribute, performing to an audience of 22,000 people at Buckingham Palace.
The big jubilee lunch: More than 60,000 people have signed up to host lunches and street parties on Sunday. About 10 million people across the UK are expected to be joining the celebrations.
The platinum jubilee pageant: More than 5,000 people take part in the mix of theatre, street arts, music, circus and carnival.
Who are the longest serving monarchs?
In Britain, Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for by far the longest period, with 70 years and counting.
Behind her is Victoria on 63 years and George III with 59 years. Globally, Louis XIV, is out in front having ruled France from May 14, 1643 to September 1, 1715 — more than 72 years.
But the longest verifiable reign of any monarch, including states not internationally recognised, is Sobhuza II of Swaziland, a landlocked kingdom in southern Africa, now called Eswatini. He reigned from July 22, 1899, until August 21, 1982 — a regal record of 82 years and 254 days.
What else is happening?
From street parties in every corner of the country to celebrations in world-famous buildings, there will be opportunities for everyone to enjoy the fun.
One of the most high-profile events is the Tower of London’s Superbloom, which has turned the moat into a field of flowers.
At Hampton Court Palace in west London, a joust is being held, reminiscent of some of the first royal jubilees.
London Zoo is staging a Zoobilee with outdoor gallery charting the royal links.
One week before the big four-day weekend more than 2,000 public events and 2,210 street parties or private events had been shared on the palace’s party website.
