Pupils across Salford are today celebrating Queen Elizabeth II becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Her Majesty, who is 89, will today surpass the record set by her great-great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, who sat on the throne between 20 June 1837 and 22 January 1901.
In honour of this recognition, at 12 noon on Wednesday 8 September, a flotilla of historic vessels will take part in a procession along the River Thames in London between Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.
By 5.30pm today Queen Elizabeth will have reigned for over 63 years and seven months.
Today will mark the 23, 226th day of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. To celebrate the day, Buckingham Palace issued new official pictures of the Queen, taken by Mary McCartney in the palace’s private audience room.
© Mary McCartney – Buckingham Palace
At Moorside Community Primary School in Swinton, all 580 pupils have dressed in red, white and blue clothing and are taking part in themed lessons throughout the day.
“We’re all feeling very proud today, and the children are very excited to come dressed in red white and blue,” said Assistant Headteacher Carolyn Clay, 41.
“One of the reasons for today’s celebrations is that the government says that children need to know about British values.
“It’s a great way for the children to get to know about the Royal Family, about the British constitution and what it means to be a head of state.”
Most children will know who the Queen is, and Prince William and Kate, but perhaps beyond that their knowledge is a little limited.
Every class will have their own Royal Family-themed lessons, while some will watch a video of the Coronation from 1952, when the Queen was installed as monarch.
Later in the day Year Six pupils at Moorside will take part in a special Royal tea party, where the children will be offered tea and cakes.
At Westwood Park Primary School in Winton, children have been learning all week about the Queen in honour of her record-breaking reign.
Headteacher Fara Walker has also organised a special celebration this afternoon, where teachers will treat pupils to a mini Garden Party, with cucumber sandwiches, cakes, mini Hovis and orange squash.
“We have a lot of children at Moorside from different parts of the world so it’s a great way of teaching them what it means to be British,” said Ms Clay.
“To us, being British means embracing and welcoming people from other cultures into the school.
“The excitement we’ve seen from our pupils today is very encouraging,” she added.
Main image: Gracie Mae Wolstenholme, age 4, Moorside Primary School reception
