At the age of 89, after 63 years, seven months and two on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II has become the longest-reigning British monarch. <br /><br /> She beats the record previously set by her great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria.<br /><br /> Queen Elizabeth is officially the UK's longest-reigning monarch. A look back: http://t.co/uTbeFRkeUV pic.twitter.com/jTqVivnfxV— Reuters Live (@ReutersLive) September 9, 2015<br /> <br /><br /> “Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones, my own is no exception,” she said. “But I thank you all and the many others at home and overseas, for your touching messages of great kindness.”<br /><br /> The rare public speech was given as the Queen officially opened the Borders Railway in Scotland. <br /><br /> Tributes have poured in from far and wide for the Queen, who is also head of state of 15 Commonwealth realms. <br /><br /> British Prime Minister, David Cameron, praised the monarch’s “selfless sense of service.”<br /><br /> His Australian counterpart, Tony Abbott, added:<br /><br /> “For Australia, for the United Kingd
