UK celebrates Queen's 65th year as monarch

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Britain’s capital hosted celebrations on Monday to mark the 65th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

The 90-year-old monarch is the first British royal to reach a sapphire jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth II became the U.K.’s head of state in 1952, aged just 25. She succeeded her father, King George VI, after his death on Feb. 6 that year.

A new portrait of the Queen, in which she wears a sapphire necklace -- a 1947 wedding gift from her father -- by photographer David Bailey has been shared with the public.

The celebrations in London will include a gun salute from Green Park and the Tower of London.

Queen Elizabeth became the longest serving monarch of Britain in 2015 at the age of 89 and has seen 14 prime ministers come and go, including Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.

Joseph Stalin was the leader of the USSR and Harry Truman was the president of the U.S. when she ascended to the British throne.