The Queen remains the nations' favourite royal as the public associate her with tradition and a positive symbol of Britain at home and abroad", Ipsos MORI, 30 May 2022, archived from the original on 20 September 2022 , retrieved 4 October 2022 ; Elizabeth toured Yugoslavia in October 1972, becoming the first British monarch to visit a communist country. [104] She was received at the airport by President Josip Broz Tito, and a crowd of thousands greeted her in Belgrade. [105] Elizabeth surpassed her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, to become the longest-lived British monarch on 21December 2007, and the longest-reigning British monarch and longest-reigning queen regnant and female head of state in the world on 9September 2015. [204] She became the oldest current monarch after King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died on 23January 2015. [205] She later became the longest-reigning current monarch and the longest-serving current head of state following the death of King Bhumibol of Thailand on 13October 2016, [206] and the oldest current head of state on the resignation of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe on 21November 2017. [207] On 6February 2017, she became the first British monarch to commemorate a sapphire jubilee, [208] and on 20November, she was the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum wedding anniversary. [209] Philip had retired from his official duties as the Queen's consort in August 2017. [210] Pandemic and widowhood Collier, Hatty (8 June 2018), "The Queen undergoes eye surgery to remove cataract", Evening Standard, archived from the original on 8 March 2021 , retrieved 19 March 2021– via Yahoo! News

In 1977, Elizabeth marked the Silver Jubilee of her accession. Parties and events took place throughout the Commonwealth, many coinciding with her associated national and Commonwealth tours. The celebrations re-affirmed Elizabeth's popularity, despite virtually coincident negative press coverage of Princess Margaret's separation from her husband, Lord Snowdon. [110] In 1978, Elizabeth endured a state visit to the United Kingdom by Romania's communist leader, Nicolae Ceaușescu, and his wife, Elena, [111] though privately she thought they had "blood on their hands". [112] The following year brought two blows: one was the unmasking of Anthony Blunt, former Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures, as a communist spy; the other was the assassination of her uncle-in-law Lord Mountbatten by the Provisional Irish Republican Army. [113] In these days of mourning, much has rightly been made of the length of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, its historic moments, and distinctive characteristics. Bond 2006, pp.66–67, 84, 87–89; Bradford 2012, pp.160–163; Hardman 2011, pp.22, 210–213; Lacey 2002, pp.222–226; Marr 2011, p.237; Pimlott 2001, pp.378–392; Roberts 2000, pp.84–86 Queen's 'fantasy assassin' jailed", BBC News, 14 September 1981, archived from the original on 28 July 2011 , retrieved 21 June 2010 a b "Indian group calls off protest, accepts queen's regrets", Amritsar, India: CNN, 14 October 1997, archived from the original on 3 May 2021 , retrieved 3 May 2021Hunter, Sophie (19 September 2022), "The State Funeral for Her Majesty The Queen", The Royal Family, archived from the original on 25 September 2022 , retrieved 19 September 2022 Alderson, Andrew (28 May 2007), "Revealed: Queen's dismay at Blair legacy", The Telegraph, archived from the original on 10 January 2022 , retrieved 31 May 2010 As Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland, I have been privileged to add my own words of appreciation. Queen gives George Cross to NHS for staff's 'courage and dedication' ", BBC News, 5 July 2021, archived from the original on 7 April 2022 , retrieved 5 July 2021 Tasker, John Paul (19 September 2022), "Canada is the country it is today because of Queen Elizabeth, Mulroney says at memorial service", CBC News, archived from the original on 13 January 2023 , retrieved 15 October 2022

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