No British monarch before her has travelled further, lived longer or met more people. She has claimed almost every first in the royal record book, and has worked tirelessly all her life to serve her people and to shape the British monarchy into a modern and compelling force for good.
The Queen’s great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, was similarly respected and admired across the world. Her long legacy was marked by unprecedented innovation, prosperity, and imperial expansion. By 1901, the British Empire had spread across a quarter of the world’s landmass, train routes had branched across the United Kingdom, drastically transforming everyday life, and British businesses flourished like never before.
The Illustrated London News was a Victorian business. Established in 1842, it was the world’s first illustrated periodical, and expanded to become one of the greatest media empires in history by 1927. It had a cherished relationship with the Royal Family, who granted ILN unprecedented access to their lives. ILN was able to create stunning portraits and lavish publications for major royal events, including The Record Number of a Record Reign, published in 1897.
The RNRR looked proudly at the achievements of the Victorian era, as millions around the world now look back at our own recent history. Elizabeth II’s reign has seen the introduction of ground breaking legislation, the development of technological marvels and monumental changes to the world stage. 9 September is not simply a day to mark the Queen becoming Britain’s longest reigning monarch, but a celebration of how our society has grown, unified and evolved over the last 63 years.
To mark the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II becoming the UK’s longest-reigning monarch, Illustrated London News Ltd has published this stunning, limited edition two book set.
A regal yet intimate portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, by QEST scholar Alastair Barford, wearing the Robes of the Order of the Garter as she attends the Garter Service at Windsor. This Buckingham Palace approved painting has been commissioned by Illustrated London News in 2015 to mark the occasion of Her Majesty The Queen becoming Britain’s longest reigning monarch.
