Queen’s Now No. 1 Among Elizabeths

Queen Elizabeth II’s lengthy reign overtook that of her namesake Queen Elizabeth I on Thursday.

But after 44 years and 128 days on the throne, Elizabeth II still has a long way to go to beat the formidable Queen Victoria’s 63 years.

The first Elizabeth, who came to the throne in 1558, presided over one of the greatest periods of English power and culture.

She had many problems with her relatives - her sister Queen Mary had her locked up in the Tower of London - but was spared the pains of quarreling children. She died childless in 1603.