Celebrating Queen Elizabeth II and her Sapphire Anniversary

TODAY, February 6, brings a mixture of sorrow and happiness to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as she celebrates her Sapphire (65th) Anniversary as monarch but also remembers the premature death of her father King George VI.

At the age of 90, she has become the first British monarch to have reigned for 65 years and tributes will come in from all over the UK and the Commonwealth but she will be taking things quietly whilst at her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk with her husband Prince Philip.

The next great milestone that the couple will be looking forward to will be their Platinum (70th) Wedding Anniversary which is due in November of this year.

Some ask why at this great age she does not abdicate and allow her eldest son Charles or grandson William to become monarch but whilst she can relinquish the crown, there is no procedure for resigning her position as Head of the Anglican Church.

She could appoint a Regent to rule in her place but unless there is a change in the law, no new monarch can be crowned prior to her passing away as only then can there be a new head of the church. The only reason that George VI was able to ascend the throne in 1936 was because Edward VIII abdicated before his coronation.