Queen becomes the longest-reigning British Monarch

Today Queen Elizabeth II makes history as the longest-reigning British monarch ever.

She eclipses her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who ruled for 63 years, seven months and two days.

Queen Elizabeth acceded to the throne in 1952, at the age of just 25.

Since then she's visited the Channel Islands on six separate occasions.

She first visited the islands as Princess Elizabeth in 1949. Newly married to Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the 22 year old princess gave a poignant address to former exiles from Alderney, before visiting Sark.

Eight years later they returned. By now Elizabeth was Queen. This time it was the islanders from Jersey that poured into the streets of St Helier to welcome the monarch.

Two decades passed before the next royal visit in 1978 when the Queen visited the islands during her Silver Jubilee tour.

In 1989 the Royal couple were back. This time the Queen strolled along he cobbled streets of Guernsey's St Peter Port, looking relaxed as she met locals on her Royal walkabout.

In 2001 the Queen came to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Channel Islands' special and unique relationship with the Crown.

The Queen's most recent visit was in 2005 for the 60th anniversary of the Liberation.