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Elizabeth is about to become Britain’s longest-reigning queen. Here’s how she’s changed monarchy

Whatever has or hasn’t happened over the last 63 years and seven months, we have shared a single blessing of ‘steadiness, staying-power and self-sacrifice’

3 January 2015

9:00 AM

3 January 2015

9:00 AM

On 24 September 1896 Queen Victoria was given a present of a paper knife, and expressed herself ‘much delighted’. The handle was set with overlapping gold coins each bearing the portrait of a British monarch. The uppermost coin bore an image of Victoria herself; the one beneath it, that of her grandfather George III.

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Matthew Dennison is the author of Queen Victoria: A Life of Contradictions.

You might disagree with half of it, but you’ll enjoy reading all of it. Try your first month for free, then just $2 a week for the remainder of your first year.


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