Army pays tribute to Monarch

The army has paid tribute to Britain's longest reigning monarch – the Queen, it has been revealed.

On September 9th, Queen Elizabeth surpassed Queen Victoria's reign of 23,226 days, 16 hours and 30 minutes.

Experts at the Royal Household have calculated the length of reign and taken leap days into account.

To mark the occasion, a Drumhead Service will be held in Bury St Edmunds with six Army Air Corps.

In London on the other hand, The Household Division has arranged for the Band of the Coldstream Guards to perform a piece of music.

An Army spokeswoman said: "The Army's tribute to their Commander in Chief has a dignified restraint.
"A Drumhead Service will be held in Bury St Edmunds with 6 Army Air Corps, and in London, the Household Division, which enjoys a uniquely close relationship with the sovereign, has arranged for the Band of the Coldstream Guards to perform a bespoke piece of music which will be released on the day."

Forty musicians from the band will perform the quintessentially British piece Vivat Regina (Long Live The Queen), the first of Four Historical Portraits by composer and band leader Laurie Johnson.

Major Simon Haw, director of music, said: "It is a huge privilege to be marking this historic occasion on behalf of the Household Division. The piece of music we have chosen: Long Live The Queen is something we all long for."