So, she's officially surpassed Queen Victoria as longest running UK monarch.

BBC report on it

Her life is just beyond understanding. The people she's met and conversed with. Becoming queen at 25. Accusations of being out of touch with her people, and yet at the same time being a remarkable ambassador for her country. She's in an odd political position too, as head of state with little actual power and yet she has a lot of social power. Having to be careful of every single word she speaks in public. Living in the lap of luxury, but also under a microscope. Every facet of your life, every penny spent, all available for public critique.

After doing the job for 60+ years, I'd long to retire.

I WIN

I think at this point most of the European monarchs are pretty much just figureheads. She's the most prominent of the European monarchs though in terms of popularity and just overall exposure. How many people know what's going on with say the Norwegian Royal family.

The thing is, neither her nor Victoria necessarily planned to live this long they simply did. Victoria died at 82, so she's right around the age that Victoria died roughly though obviously she's going to outlive Victoria. It does make me wonder because there's so much literature on Queen Victoria and her reign what the historians are going to say about her reign when she dies.

Its hard to say what her influence is, or has been. I mean, being Canadian, I see her face every time I spend money. How does this really influence me? In some ways she isn't real, just a symbol. On the other hand she really does have power here, veto power anyway, because until she (or rather her representative) signs it, no bill actually becomes law. And even when her rep signs it, she, personally has one or two years to countermand that signature.

That she has never used that power doesn't negate it.

I think the most interesting question is what would happen if she did try to veto a bill? A large part of the country already is anti-monarchist. Would we finally rebel completely and sever our ties to the monarchy or would we allow it?

Personally, I like having her as Queen of Canada. Not so sure of the idea of Prince Charles becoming the King of Canada though.

That's true, but admittedly I don't think she's really exercised the power she has over any of the commonwealth countries that are still considered part of the UK.

As far as Prince Charles, she hasn't given up power yet and Prince Charles is already pretty old himself. She might outlive him before he ever becomes king.