In the evening of February 5, 1952 a young princess climbed a ladder to sleep in a tree house in the wilds of Kenya. Sometime that night her father had a heart attack and died. In the morning she returned to the lodge she was based for her stay to find she had become queen.
Her first decision came when her advisers asked her what she wished her regnant name to be, to which she replied "Elizabeth. of course".
Not many 85 year olds are still at work. Despite the riches, pomp and circumstance she still has to read briefings daily in order to keep up the store of knowledge that has enabled her to advise and counsel 11 Prime Ministers and still stay above the political fray. Their informal weekly meetings have been described as being more like therapy sessions where anything can be discussed in complete confidentiality.
Many Americans find this separation of Head of State and Head of Government confusing - actually it is more common than having a single post even in other presidential democracies. It has the advantage of there being a permanent, really quite irrelevant, fixture to do the ceremonial stuff while the political power lies with much more highly divisive transients. Indeed, the two biggest arguments against the abolition of the monarchy in Britain are "President Thatcher" and "President Blair".
Of course there have been huge changes in the last 60 years - perhaps almost typified by the destruction of the tree house a few years after her stay in the Mau Mau rebellion against white rule. Although the trend for countries to become republics within the Commonwealth continues - politicians in Jamaica are the latest to propose it - it's a sign of just how good Elizabeth and her immediate predecessors have been at PR that so many remain.
Behind it though is a dumpy old woman who had a deep religious faith - as befits the Supreme Governor of the Church of England! - and who respects those of other faiths. She also has a great sense of duty. On her 21st birthday, speaking from South Africa to the Empire by radio,she pledged:
I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.
A vow that was repeated in her Jubilee message today.
In this special year, as I dedicate myself anew to your service, I hope that we will all be reminded of the power of togetherness and the convening strength of family, friendship and good neighbourliness, examples of which I have been fortunate to see throughout my reign and which my family and I look forward to seeing in many forms as we travel throughout the UK and the wider Commonwealth