A species of elm thought to be extinct in Great Britain for the past 50 years has just been discovered in one of the Queen's gardens in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The two Wentworth elms (Ulmus Wentworthii Pendula) were found hidden in plain sight during a recent botanical survey of the gardens surrounding the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which is the Queen's official residence in Scotland.

The strangest part is that the trees weren't hard to find — at around 30 metres (100 feet) in height, they were two of the most photographed trees in the gardens. But apparently no one had picked up on the fact that the species was supposed to be extinct.

"Such a discovery when the trees in question are just shy of 100 feet [30 metres] and in plain sight does sound rather odd,"said Max Coleman from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE).

It was only when the latest survey noted the trees as unique — with their weeping appearance and waxy leaves - that botanists realised they were most likely the only surviving specimens of Wentworth elm left in Great Britain.

Coleman speculates to the BBC that the reason they went unnoticed for so long could be because Wentworth elms were never very common in the first place.

"If you pull your tree book off the shelf to try and look them up, you won't find Wentworth elm listed in the books,"he explained.

On top of that, the species was pretty much entirely wiped out in Great Britain in the 1970s due to an epidemic of Dutch elm disease, which killed between 25 and 75 million elms across the UK.

Experts are now considering ways they can propagate the Wentworth elm and restore it in other parts of Great Britain - and part of that involves trying to figure out why these trees survived in the first place.

"It is very likely the only reason these rare elms have survived is because Edinburgh City Council has been surveying and removing diseased elms since the 1980s,"said Coleman.

"Without that work many more of the thousands of elms in Edinburgh would have been lost. The success of this program may be partly demonstrated in the way two rare trees have been preserved."

To add to the intrigue surrounding the two Wentworth elm specimens, botanists are now speculating that they might have actually been taken from the botanic gardens in Edinburgh at some point last century.

The Edinburgh gardens' archives reveal that three Wentworth elms arrived at RBGE from Germany in 1902, but after that, all records refer to only a single tree in the botanic gardens, which died in 1996 as a result of the disease.

"It is very tempting to speculate that the Wentworth elms at the Palace are the two missing trees from RBGE. There is anecdotal evidence that the young trees could have come in to RBGE then been grown-on before planting-out in their final positions,"said Coleman.

"Certainly, there was a close relationship between the Palace and the Garden in the early 20th century and the head gardener at Holyrood, William Smith, had trained here. And, although we have no record here of elms going out, we know that a large number of ivy plants went from here to Holyrood to plant round the abbey ruins."

For now, though, the origins of these two surviving Wentworth elms remains mysterious. Let's just hope the story doesn't end here, and that these two specimens go on to help continue the species on into a new century.

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Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, is not going to live forever.

Since ascending to the throne in 1952, the monarch has seen 13 Prime Ministers serve Britain, and lived through another 12 US presidents (with number 13 on the way). She's now 90. At some point — not for many years yet, we hope — Queen Elizabeth II's reign will come to an end.

But what happens then?

For at least 12 days — between her passing, the funeral and beyond — Britain will grind to a halt. It'll cost the British economy billions in lost earnings due to the chaos. The stock markets and banks will likely close. And both the funeral and the subsequent coronation will become formal national holidays, each with an estimated economic hit to GDP of between £1.2 and £6 billion, to say nothing of organisational costs.

But to focus on the financial disruption doesn't begin to describe the sheer magnitude of it. It will be an event unlike anything Britain has seen since the end of the Second World War. There will be trivial disruptions — the BBC will cancel all comedy shows, for example — and jarring cultural changes. Prince Charles may change his name, for instance, and the words of the national anthem will be changed, too. The British Commonwealth might even unravel completely.

The deaths of Princess Diana and the Queen Mother both brought on waves of public mourning and hysteria. But the Queen, due to her longevity and fundamental place atop British society, will be on a whole new level above that.

The vast majority of British people have simply never known life without the Queen.

It will be a strange, uncertain time.

The early hours

Much depends on the manner of the Queen's passing. If it is expected (from a long illness, say), then detailed plans will have been put in place for handling it and making the announcement. These plans are already being made: Inside Buckingham Palace, arrangements for after the Queen's passing and the subsequent succession are known as the "Bridge."

But if it's sudden, unexpected, or even in public — as was the case with Princess Diana's death in 1997 — then the news will get out immediately, in an unplanned, uncontrolled fashion.

Either way, the majority of staff at the Palace and associated institutions will be immediately sent home. (According to The Daily Beast, if it happens overnight, it will be announced at 8 a.m.) The Royal Court has a staff hotline for distributing news and instructions to employees in the event of occasions like this. Many of the details in this story were provided to Business Insider by a former staff member of the Palace.

Assuming the Queen's passing was expected, the news will spread at first via the main TV channels. All BBC channels will stop their programming and show the BBC1 feed for the announcement. The other independent channels won't be obligated to interrupt their regular programming. But they almost certainly will.

This is how the BBC initially announced the death of the Queen Mother in 2002:

At the BBC, anchors actively practice for the eventuality of the Monarch's passing so they won't be caught unaware on their shifts. The BBC's Peter Sissons was heavily criticised for wearing a red tie to announce the Queen Mother's passing (as seen above), and the BBC now keeps black ties and suits at the ready at all times.

Presenters also run drills in which they're required to make sudden "spoof" announcements that are never broadcast. In 2015, a BBC journalist tweeted that the Queen had died (on the same day she was visiting hospital, no less) after not realising a rehearsal was going on — with the "news" subsequently being picked up by foreign news outlets.

"A journalist working for the BBC's language services, who had not been sent the email [informing staff about the rehearsal], saw an internal TV monitor which was showing the rehearsal,"the BBC Trust said. "A number of tweets were sent from her Twitter account. The first stated that the Queen was being treated in hospital, the second stated that the Queen had died; the tweets included a link to BBC World's official Twitter feed."

All comedy will be cancelled

The last death of a Monarch was in 1952, and the BBC stopped all comedy for a set period of mourning after the announcement was made. The Daily Mail reports that the BBC plans to do the same again today, cancelling all comedy until after the funeral.

CNN has pre-recorded packages on the Queen's life ready to be aired at a moment's notice, we're told — and so will every other major news channel.

The London Stock Exchange will likely close if the announcement happens during working hours, and other businesses may too. The protocols government bodies will follow will emanate from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (though they may also originate from the Palace). But the immediate government response beyond official statements of condolences will be hard to predict, the former palace employee we spoke to said. The last monarch died in 1952; procedures that seemed apt then may be woefully antiquated in the twenty-first century.

Mourners wore black armbands to show respect for George VI, for example, but would similar public displays of mourning be employed today? It's impossible to know until it happens.

Flags will be flown at half-mast until 8 a.m. the day after the funeral, according to guidance from the Greater London Lieutenancy, with the exception of Proclamation Day (more on that shortly). Churches may also toll their bells — either on the day of the death, or the day after.

Whatever happens formally, the shock on the day of the Queen's passing will see Britain effectively cease to function. The day of the funeral, around two weeks later, will be declared a bank holiday, but "shell-shocked" mourning will continue throughout this time.

There will be a brief resurrection of the British Empire

Given the Queen's international significance, it will almost certainly be the top news story across the entire world. It will trend globally on social media. After all, Britain has a massive overseas presence — not just via its embassies, but also former colonies and the Commonwealth, which swears loyalty to the crown, and more informally in any country where English is spoken.

The British Empire once covered a quarter of the earth's landmass and for a brief, surreal period it will feel as if the Empire still exists, as all its former subjects will turn toward Britain for the news.

A former ambassador we spoke to said what will happen overseas depends on the manner of the Queen's passing. If it has been long-expected, there will be detailed plans and procedures in place. If it's sudden, overseas posts will look to the Foreign Office for urgent guidance.

A few things will definitely happen overseas: Social functions will be cancelled. The Union Jack flag will be flown at half-mast until after the funeral (this will also happen at home in the UK). Officials will enter a period of mourning, and dress appropriately. Condolence books will be prepared for visitors to leave messages in.

But the ambassador also stressed there is a massive amount of uncertainty as to what will actually happen. It has been more than 60 years since the last monarch died. Society has changed a huge amount in that time.

We're getting ahead of ourselves, however. What will happen inside the Palace?

Behind closed doors at the Palace, an "Accession Council" will convene

Once the majority of the staff are out the way and the public tourist attractions are closed, an Accession Council will be held at St. James's Palace to declare the successor formally — Prince Charles, barring any unforeseen circumstances. The Accession Council will be attended by Privy Councillors, Lords, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and High Commissioners of certain Commonwealth countries, amongst others.

This council is not required to make Queen Elizabeth II's successor "official" however — Charles will become the monarch from the moment of her passing. There is never not a Sovereign on the throne. This is also why the the Royal Standard is never flown at half-mast (unlike the Union Jack).

Charles could change his name

It's also worth discussing the possibility of the crown "leapfrogging" Charles in favour of his son, Prince William — a possibility that has been discussed in the media repeatedly.

This would cause a constitutional crisis, and definitely will not happen. Prince William himself has said there is "no question" of it happening. Instead, Prince William will become the new Prince of Wales — Charles' current role.

After all, Charles has waited and prepared for this job for his entire life. And his mother's longevity means that he's no long young either — he will be at least 68 when he takes the throne, past the British age of retirement.

“Impatient? Me? What a thing to suggest! Yes of course I am,"he said in 2012. "I’ll run out of time soon. I shall have snuffed it if I’m not careful."

At the council, the new Monarch (presumably Charles) will swear loyalty to Parliament, and to the Church of England. He will also become the new Supreme Governor of the church. (Catholics cannot ascend to the throne.)

The council will also make a "Proclamation of Accession," to be read out on "Proclamation Day" soon after the death in London Edinburgh, Windsor, York, and other towns and villages throughout the country.

This was the most recent Proclamation, from when Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne:

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lord King George the Sixth of Blessed and Glorious memory, by whose Decease the Crown is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary:

WE, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm, being here assisted with these His late Majesty's Privy Council, with representatives of other Members of the Commonwealth, with other Principal Gentlemen of Quality, with the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim that the High and Mighty Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory, become Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God Queen of this Realm and of all Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom Her lieges do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience with hearty and humble Affection, beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Princess Elizabeth the Second with long and happy Years to reign over us.

Charles won't necessarily become "King Charles," however. Upon ascending to the Throne, royals may pick their "regnal" name from any of their Christian or middle names. Arthur Bousfield and Gary Toffoli write that when Queen Elizabeth II was asked, she opted for "my own of course — what else?" But if Prince Charles felt inclined to change, as Charles Philip Arthur George, he could also be "King Philip,""King Arthur," or "King George."

The Queen's body will "lie in state"

As these discussions are ongoing, the Queen's coffin will be prepared to lie in state — that is, to be presented for public viewing so people can pay their respects.

Before this, however, both Houses of Parliament will sit, or be recalled if necessary. Members will have the opportunity to take a new oath of allegiance to the new Monarch. All MPs must swear allegiance to the present Monarch — though some republican MPs will cross their fingers when making the 500-year-old oath. Members of both houses will also present addresses of condolences and loyalty to the new Sovereign, a House of Lords spokesperson told me, in a format that is yet to be determined.

After this, both Houses will be suspended until after the official State Funeral.

The Queen's body will lie in state in Westminster Hall. There will be a short ceremony to mark the coffin's arrival, after which the public will be able to file past and pay their respects. The Hall will be open all but a single hour a day for the duration, the spokesperson says.

When the Queen Mother lay in state for three days, her grieving grandsons relieve the official guard to stand guard over the coffin for a short period; it was called the Vigil of the Princes. Something similar happened for George V. While not a formal ceremony, it's likely a similar act of remembrance would be accorded to Queen Elizabeth II. More than 200,000 members of the public paid their respects as the Queen Mother lay in state; the scale of mourning for the Queen should easily eclipse this.

Here's footage of the Queen Mother's coffin lying in state:

Throughout this period, there will be a massive, hysterical outpouring of public grief. It won't just be sombre dress and a minute of silence at sports games — it'll be a punch to the gut of the national psyche.

When Princess Diana died, the public turned out in their tens of thousands to lay flowers outside Buckingham Palace — by some estimates as many as 1 million bouquets were left. A memorial appeal raised £20 million. People queued for ten hours or more to sign memorial books.

"Everything closed, saturation TV coverage, no one at work" on the day of the funeral, recounted one witness to the BBC (despite it not being a national holiday). There were "scenes of unbelievable grief," said another: "It was as though all of these people had lost someone incredible dear to them and their emotion was genuine. It worried me hugely — especially after days of mounting hysteria on the streets of Kensington, people walking into the road blinded by tears, etc. — people appeared to be losing their grip on reality."

The Guardian's Jonathan Freedland writes that many Britons felt "forced to close their shops or cancel sporting events on the day of the funeral, lest they feel the rage of the tear-stained hordes outside."

Given the Queen's stature, and how intrinsically she is woven into the fabric of modern Britain, it's likely there will be even greater public mourning for her passing.

Here's a photo of flowers laid 5 feet deep outside Buckingham Palace for Princess Diana in 1997:

It will be an extremely star-studded funeral

Queen Elizabeth II's body will continue to lie in state until the day of the funeral, which will be a public holiday. The Daily Mail believes this will be 12 days after the death. The coffin will then be transported to Westminster Abbey by gun carriage for a State Funeral.

It will probably be the best-attended funeral of all time. World leaders from across the globe will flock to attend. She's the most senior head of state in the world — on the throne for nearly 65 years.

The service will be led by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the second-most senior figure in the Church of England (after the Monarch). According to The Daily Beast, the Queen has been actively involved in planning parts of her funeral, and has a "sanguine" view of her mortality.

On the day of Princess Diana's funeral, "more than a million people lined the route of the funeral cortege,"according to the BBC, with 30 million Brits tuning in to watch it. Worldwide, there were as many as 2.5 billion viewers. The viewership of Queen Elizabeth II's funeral is likely to be equivalent, if not even more.

What about the Queen's final resting place?

Once the funeral is concluded, it'll be time for the burial. Queen Elizabeth II may well have already decided this — in which case it could either be Sandringham or Balmoral in Scotland. These two properties are unique in that they belong to the Queen in a personal capacity, rather than to the crown.

Alternately, she could be buried at St. George's Chapel at Windsor, the site of the grave of King George VI — her father.

After a certain appropriate period of mourning — up to a year or so — there will be a coronation. It's a highly ceremonial affair, although the new monarch technically has the ability to do whatever he wants — after all, he is already the King. Charles' authority as sovereign does not derive from the ceremony, so he could choose to eschew it altogether, should he desire.

But assuming Charles does not wish to totally break with tradition, it will — again — be held at Westminster Abbey. And, again, it will be officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Here's archive footage illustrating the pomp and ceremony of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation:

The entire event will be broadcast on television (and also streamed online), and there will be parties up and down the country. After the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011, there were thousands of street parties celebrating. The same will be true of the coronation. As a national holiday, the Royal Wedding in 2011 lost the economy between £1.2 and 6 billion, and the Coronation will be similar — in addition to the direct cost to the taxpayer of holding the largest British ceremonial event since the 1950s.

Decorations along Victoria Street in London, ahead of the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II:

The little things...

The Queen buried, a new King on the throne... is that it? Of course not.

There will be hundreds of changes taking place up and down the country in the weeks and months ahead.

First off, new currency will begin being printed and minted immediately. The portraits of Charles will already have been made in preparation. They won't seek to replace the entire stock of currency overnight, however — it will take several years to do so, much like how older notes and coins are gradually removed from circulation today.

Of course, the national anthem, "God Save The Queen," would change too. Here's Dame Julie Andrews singing "God Save The King" for George VI in 1948:

Even Trafalgar Square will change

Another unexpected change: Police will need new insignia on their helmets. They currently display the Queen's initials and regnal number. Likewise, a great deal of military insignia will require updating.

Passports too will need a refresh. The British passport currently "requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance." Stamps will also need updating so that they show the new King's head rather than the Queen's.

These small changes matter more than you would expect. After the current Queen was crowned, her regnal number — II — caused controversy in Scotland, which she also rules, as there was never a Scottish Elizabeth I. When postboxes bearing her cypher were erected in Scotland, some were attacked and vandalised.

As signs of the Queen's reign are slowly erased, she will also be memorialised. The fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square is currently dedicated to temporary statues and works of art, but former London Mayor Ken Livingstone says his understanding is that"the fourth plinth is being reserved for Queen Elizabeth II."

It may end the Commonwealth

The Queen's passing may have far more profound and long-lasting consequences than just new postage stamps, however. It may well spell the end of the Commonwealth as we know it.

The 53-country organisation includes 16 countries where the British Monarch is officially the Head of State, including Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Barbados. It's a remnant of the British Empire which today exists mainly as a trade and political organisation. It has few formal powers but carries the weight of symbolism: Many of these countries were part of the Empire against their will, and almost all of them declared independence long ago.

With Queen Elizabeth II out of the way, some may choose to end this union with Britain once and for all.

Australia, for example, has already held a referendum on becoming a Republic once before, in 1999. It was a relatively close-run thing, with the republicans ultimately losing 45% to 55%. But much support for the Monarchy arguably derives from personal affection for the Queen herself. With her gone, many Commonwealth nations may decide the time has come to separate. In Canada, for example, there is speculation that the death of the Queen might prompt a severing of ties: "I think Charles might solve the problem,"Ajax, Ontario mayor Steve Parish told The Guardian.

This also depends on the time of the Queen's death. Many politicians in Commonwealth countries — like former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott — are staunch monarchists, certain to try and block any attempt at Republicanism on their watch. But if the Queen's passing comes when politicians less enamoured with the monarchy are in office, resurgent republicanism may find a more receptive audience.

A republican Britain?

Depending on Charles' reign, republicanism may grow in prominence in Britain too. But there's no chance of Britain becoming a Republic in the near future. Support for the Monarch is deeply entrenched in the nation's psyche, with 66% of respondents in one survey saying Britain is better off as a Monarchy, and with just 17% opting for a Republic.

On September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II broke the record set by her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, becoming the longest reigning British monarch ever.

And in December 2016, in an apparent concession to her age, the Queen announced she is stepping down as patron of a number of organisations she has supported, including charities and academic institutions.

Though her death is hopefully a long way off yet, it is definitely coming — and with it, the end of an epic chapter in Britain's history, and the start of a strange new one.

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The Queen's night-time habits almost got her shot once.

The Times reports that according to an ex-guardsman, the Queen likes to throw on a trench coat and go out on nighttime walks when sleep eludes her.

One night though when the ex-guardsman was patrolling the inside of the Palace walls at 3 am he spotted the Queen but thought it was an intruder so shouted at her "Who's that?"

Upon discovering who it was, he told the Queen "Bloody hell, Your Majesty, I nearly shot you!"

The Queen, known for her humour and quick wit, replied: "That’s quite all right, next time I’ll ring through beforehand so you don’t have to shoot me."

The Times article did not specify when the incident took place.

Queen Elizabeth II is 90 years and is the longest-reigning monarch in Britain's history.

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With more than 64 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning monarch in British History. When the Queen dies her son, Prince Charles, will take over (barring any unforeseen circumstances).

The line of succession then goes Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and then Prince Harry.

The succession line, in fact, responds to the Acts of Settlement which gave precedence to sons of the monarchy over daughters. However, this changed in 2013 with the Succession to the Crown Act.

Produced by Claudia Romeo. Original reporting by Rob Price.

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The Queen has made her first public appearance of the calendar year after suffering illness over the Christmas period.

Wearing royal blue, the monarch arrived at St Mary Magdalene Church, close to her Sandringham estate on Sunday morning.

She had missed her regular appearances on Christmas Day and New Year's Day because of the lingering respiratory illness.

The Queen was greeted by a small crowd of people as she was driven the short distance to the church in a burgundy Bentley, accompanied by Philip, who also suffered illness over Christmas.

One man told the BBC: “We saw her very close up. We have been waiting the past three weeks to know she has attended. It is very nice to see her and of course, Prince Philip too.”

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also attended the service after walking the short distance from the house to the church but there was no sign of Prince George or Princess Charlotte.

Although she has missed the church services and has not been in seen in public for several weeks the monarch has carried out other duties.

She presented Ray Wheaton, her Page of the Chambers, with the insignia of a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order, the court circular recorded.

Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh had been forced to delay their journey from Buckingham Palace to their Norfolk estate in the days before Christmas after she fell ill.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth will set out the government's plans for a European Union membership referendum on Wednesday as Prime Minister David Cameron faces pressure to explain when it will be held and what changes to the EU he wants before then.

Cameron, who says he would prefer to stay inside a reformed EU but isn't "ruling anything out" if it fails to change, was re-elected on May 7 on a pledge to reshape ties with the bloc before allowing Britons to vote on whether to stay or leave.

Queen Elizabeth, 89, will detail the plans in a speech written for her by Cameron's government as she opens parliament with an annual display of pomp.

She will say the new Conservative government plans to pass a law in its first year that would allow the referendum to occur by the end of 2017.

In a gesture meant to underscore Cameron's seriousness, the law will be introduced into parliament just a day later, on Thursday, as Cameron embarks on a European tour to try to charm sometimes reluctant counterparts into backing EU reform. It will include talks with French President Francois Hollande in Paris and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.

Cameron has said he would be ready to hold the referendum before 2017 if he completes the renegotiation early, something some pro-EU campaigners advocate. But he is under pressure from some Eurosceptic lawmakers who want him to ask for more and to take his time.

"I think we need a proper grown-up debate – it's the most important constitutional issue of my lifetime. It's something that we should properly take our time over," Liam Fox, a senior Conservative and a former defense secretary, told BBC radio.

Some EU politicians have complained they don't know enough, beyond what they say are broad and nebulous goals, about what it is Cameron wants to change. He says he wants to decouple Britain from the EU's aim of "ever closer union" and to be able to restrict EU migrants' access to Britain's welfare system.

Cameron is adamant that such changes would require re-opening the EU's founding treaties, something countries such as France are opposed to.

In a potential setback for the prime minister, a Franco-German paper seen by Reuters shows the two countries have agreed plans to strengthen cooperation among the 19 countries using the euro, without changing existing treaties.

The blueprint would bolster the euro zone, of which Britain is not a member, by holding more regular summits of its leaders and strengthening the Eurogroup forum of finance ministers.

Other laws the queen will outline on Wednesday include plans to replace existing human rights law, a crackdown on illegal immigration, more powers for Scotland, and a bill preventing any rise in key taxes before 2020.

(Additional reporting by William James; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

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When Queen Elizabeth II dies it will be one of the biggest events of recent history.

She will have a State Funeral which will be watched by billions of people worldwide. Her coffin will lie in state for three days at Westminster Hall for people to pay their respects.

Until the funeral takes place, the BBC will cancel all comedy.

Produced by Claudia Romeo. Original reporting by Rob Price.

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Queen Elizabeth II has ruled for so long that most people in the United Kingdom have never known another monarch.

She became queen when her father, King George VI, died on February 6, 1952 (though her official coronation was on June 2, 1953).

During her reign, she has outlasted 14 British prime ministers and 12 (soon to be 13) US presidents.

The Queen is 90 years old, and a heavy cold kept her from regular appearances on Christmas and New Year's. When she dies, life will turn upside down for Brits, and many others who admire her from across the globe.

The impact will be even deeper because 81% of UK residents weren't alive when Queen Elizabeth ascended the throne.

According to the UK Office for National Statistics, only 12 million UK residents were alive when King George was on the throne in 1952. That's only 19% of the UK's population of 65 million.

Since the most recent UK census data was from 2014, we used age-specific death rates to calculate how many Brits who were over 63 in 2014 would likely still be alive today.

This remarkable fact is a testament to Queen Elizabeth's stamina as Britain's longest reigning monarch.

SEE ALSO: This is what happens when the Queen dies

DON'T MISS: The Queen has been seen in public for the first time in a month after suffering from a 'heavy cold'

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The INSIDER Summary:

• People assume her go-to drink would be tea, but it's not. 
• For the Queen of England, it's all about the bubbly. She claims she's accustomed to drinking a flute of Champagne every night before bed.

The Queen of England is one BAMF. She served as a mechanic in WWII, gracefully survived an assassination attempt, and participates in target practice. She's well known for her great sense of humor and spreading joy everywhere she goes. At 90 years young, she's logged 65 years on the throne as the longest serving monarch in British history. So how has she managed to survive (let alone thrive) all these years?

It's All About the Bubbly

Seeing as the Queen is one of the classiest ladies in history, it's only fitting that she claims she's accustomed to drinking a flute of Champagne every night before bed. Has she found the key to lifelong health and happiness? Or is the flute a health fluke? I'm not saying Champagne is the secret to her success, but here's what science says. 

It Improves Your Memory

As the Queen of England, I can only imagine what this woman is in charge of remembering. Names, laws, places—and at her age, most people may have problems remembering their own family. But not this the Queen. Could it all be due to her nightly drink? It's possible, especially considering researchers have found that drinking Champagne regularly can prevent dementia and Alzheimer's. 

It's Heart Healthy

You've probably heard that drinking a glass of red wine every day can be good for your heart. Champagne, which is also made from red grapes, can be equally beneficial. One study found that drinking Champagne every day can improve your blood pressure and lower your risk of heart disease. Maybe this is what helped the Queen bounce back after a health scare in January. 

It's Good For Your Skin

This benefit only comes when the drink is applied directly to your face. Like you haven't had alcohol dripping down your chin at one point in your life? It happens to all of us, even the Queen of England (probably). Or maybe she's been secretly pouring a separate glass for her face this entire time. This would explain her amazing complexion, as dermatologists claim Champagne is a cure-all for blemishes and an amazing toner. 

It Has Fewer Calories Than Wine

If you're wondering how the Queen manages to drink so much yet look so good, here's your answer. Champagne tends to be slightly less caloric than red wine, according to The Telegraph. It only clocks in at around 30 calories less a bottle of wine, but when you're drinking one glass per night, that savings is sure to add up.

It Gets You Drunk Faster

This one is still up for debate in the scientific community, but one study did show that consuming bubbly raised the BAC of adults faster when compared to flat alcohol. It's been said that Champagne will go right to your head, making you feel drunk faster even when consuming less alcohol. After serving her country for 65 years, if there's anyone who deserves to get a little buzz going each night, it's the Queen. 

So is Champagne the secret to the Queen's health and happiness after all these years? There's definitely a case to be made, considering her immaculate mental and physical health at her age. Plus, I don't know how you could go to bed unhappy on any night that ended with a glass of bubbly. 

The good news for all of us commoners is that these benefits have been shown in both expensive Champagne and in cheaper alternatives like prosecco. As a self-proclaimed prosecco addict myself, the notion that a flute a day could keep the doctor away is pretty exciting. It might just be time to start enjoying my brunch bellini as part of my nightly ritual. 

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The INSIDER Summary:

• Queen Elizabeth has worn the same shade of nail polish since 1989.
• Essie's Ballet Slippers lacquer is the only color Her Majesty will wear.
• The pale shade is fit for a queen, and your budget, at just $9 a bottle.

Queen Elizabeth has some very specific habits and rituals, including sipping a glass of champagne before bed each night. But when it comes to nail care, Her Royal Majesty is especially keen to a particular hue of pink.

Essie's iconic Ballet Slipper nail polish isn't just a favorite among beauty bloggers, brides, and supermodels, it's also the only color the Queen will wear on her nails.

According to the brand's website, Queen Elizabeth's hairdresser wrote a letter to nail polish-mogul Essie Weingarten in 1989 requesting a bottle of the classic shade as she refused to wear any other. 

Ballet Slippers is an understated pale hue, just subtle enough to hide beneath the Queen's gloves when she's greeting and hosting world leaders. But Her Royal Majesty isn't the polish's only influential fan.

The universally flattering shade has developed somewhat of a cult-following in the beauty world. Supermodel and former Victoria's Secret Angel Karlie Kloss once named it as her summer-must have. The polish even got a shout out by Meryl Streep's character in "The Devil Wears Prada."

An endorsement from an angel and a queen? Not bad, especially at $9 a bottle.    

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The former chief ethics counsel to President George W Bush has suggested the Queen pair up with former President Barack Obama to sue Donald Trump over his “libellous” claims that they wiretapped him.

“Obama could now have a co-plaintiff in a libel suit against Trump,” tweeted Richard Painter, one of the lawyers behind a case which alleges the President has conflicts of interest with his business empire. “If only they were willing.”

The current US President held strong that both parties subjected him to illegal surveillance at Trump Tower before the election, despite FBI Director James Comey declaring this week before the House Intelligence Committee that he had no evidence to prove it. 

GCHQ in the UK and Mr Obama’s spokesperson also denied ordering the now President to be put under surveillance.

Despite highly stringent libel laws in the UK, it would be unlikely for the head of state’s office to launch a lawsuit against the new President.

Mr Trump is scheduled to visit the Queen in October at Buckingham Palace. It was arranged for June but it was delayed following protests in the UK against Mr Trump’s controversial policies.

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With more than 64 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II is the longest reigning monarch in British History. When the Queen dies her son, Prince Charles, will take over (barring any unforeseen circumstances).

The line of succession then goes Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and then Prince Harry.

The succession line, in fact, responds to the Acts of Settlement which gave precedence to sons of the monarchy over daughters. However, this changed in 2013 with the Succession to the Crown Act.

Produced by Claudia Romeo. Original reporting by Rob Price.

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The INSIDER Summary

• Turns out, Queen Elizabeth II has a sweet tooth. 
• Her Majesty's must-have travel accessory is chocolate biscuit cake.
• Her former personal chef says that Her Majesty has the snack on hand for every trip. 

For most of us, our must-have travel accessories include our special toiletries, that one sweater we can’t live without, a pair of comfy shoes to walk in, and perhaps some fancy sunglasses. But Queen Elizabeth II’s must-have travel accessory is much, much sweeter than anything we could imagine.

According to Darren McGrady, Queen Elizabeth's former personal chef and author of "Eating Royally," Her Majesty refuses to travel, even short distances, without a delicious piece of chocolate biscuit cake. (We’ll let you fill in the “let them eat cake” jokes here.)

"Now the Chocolate Biscuit Cake is the only cake that goes back again and again and again everyday until it's all gone," McGrady told RecipePlus. "She'll take a small slice every day until eventually there is only one tiny piece, but you have to send that up, she wants to finish the whole of that cake."

McGrady added that if the Queen were to leave for a trip with even a sliver of the cake left over, a senior chef would follow her on the next train with the cake in hand. He also warned the Windsor staff to keep their hands off her precious treat, because she would notice if a single slice went missing.

While it may seem fantastical to think of the royal with such a sweet tooth, we’re inclined to believe McGrady’s story. After all, he cooked for her for 15 years.

Beyond her love of cake, McGrady also shared a few of the Queen’s other food quirks.

"With a banana, she'll cut off the bottoms and cut the banana lengthwise, and then cut the banana into tiny slices to eat with a fork," McGrady said, adding the way she eats pears is no less weird. "She eats her pears like boiled eggs,” he said. “She'll cut off the top and scoop out the insides with a spoon."

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A tourist at the Tower of London has been slammed after allegedly tossing her glove towards a Queen’s Guard soldier in a bid to get him to move.

The female holidaymaker was caught on camera being given a dressing down by a London Beefeater who told her: "He’s not here for the public to make fun of".

Video footage posted online by a fellow tourist captures the "stand-off" between the woman and the Queen’s Guard as the soldier refuses to move to pick up her glove.

Eventually, an irritated Beefeater approaches the woman and demands: "Did you just throw your glove over?"

He asks her: "Why did you do that? The Army’s here to protect the crown jewels, he is not here for the public to make fun of."

The Beefeater – whose job it is to guard the Tower of London– continues and says: "He’s a soldier, he serves his country, he deserves to be treated with a little respect.

"Throwing your gloves at him isn’t going to work is it really?"

After telling off the tourist, the Beefeater then strides over to the soldier, picks up the glove and returns it to the woman.

The video was shared on website Reddit this week with many people deeming the tourist "disrespectful".

Others praised the Beefeater for his "calm chiding" and his polite but firm manner.

One user said: "See, when I’m rude I’m just rude. But when British people are mean… they're nice and mean."

Someone else called her "unbelievably rude" while another person added: "The glove should be confiscated."

The Queen’s Guard – who are known for their iconic furry hats – are soldiers stationed outside royal residences including Buckingham Palace, St James’ Palace and the Tower of London.

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History will be made on September 9 when the Queen becomes the longest-reigning British monarch, but the day is likely to pass with little fanfare after a privately-funded concert to mark the occasion raised just £15 in donations.

With no official celebrations taking place, the British Monarchist Society decided to take the initiative by organising the show at the 02 Arena in London, and launched a crowd-funding appeal to raise £65,000 to cover costs.

So far, however, just two people have made donations, and with the full £65,000 needed by July 22, the chances of the concert going ahead look slim.

The only other event planned to mark the occasion is a Queen-themed message which will be projected onto the Tower of London, though its main purpose is to promote a forces charity.

Buckingham Palace said it was focusing on the Queen’s 90th birthday next year as the main time for reflection on her reign, though she will carry out a low-key engagement in Scotland on September 9 so that the public will, at least, see her on the day she overtakes Queen Victoria’s record of 63 years and seven months.

The British Monarchist Society had hoped its Concert For The Queen would “show Her Majesty how much she is loved”. Acts including Elaine Paige, Rick Wakeman, Patti Boulaye and S Club 7 have been lined up, but with no backing from the Government or private sponsors, the BMS was relying on individual donors giving small amounts.

Thomas Mace-Archer-Mills, the chairman of the BMS, said: “It is unconscionable that no one person, organisation, or the government has given an thought to properly celebrating the most historic milestone in this nation’s history, let alone honouring Her Majesty for the life long service she has given the people of this world. A proper show of appreciation is only appropriate.

“This generation has never witnessed a piece of history like this. The last people to do so were the Victorians and a reign of this length is unlikely to be seen again.”

The Tower of London, which remains an official royal palace, has gained approval from the Royal Household to beam a message onto its walls from one minute past midnight on September 10, saying “For Queen and Country”, to celebrate the landmark and promote the charity Coming Home, which helps provide adapted homes for wounded service personnel.

Lord Dannatt, Constable of the Tower of London and former head of the Army, said: “This will be a genuinely historic occasion, and a record that will not be beaten in a hurry.

“The Tower is the original royal palace, it has a special place in the hearts of the British people and it seems an entirely appropriate place to mark this unique event.”

A concert will be held in the Tower on September 16th to honour the Queen and to raise money for Coming Home.

For details of the concert, email FQAC@haighousing.org.uk

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It may not come as a surprise that some of the world's most powerful leaders, business tycoons, and monarchs travel by private jets and extravagant aircrafts. However, some have entire fleets at their disposal which, for some, cost up to $1 billion (£786 million).

Air Charter Service, which specialises in charters and private jets for heads of state and high profile individuals, has put together an analysis of the aircrafts owned and used by 13 of the most influential leaders in the world.

Using research from its 20 global offices, the study reveals the fleets heads of state travel with, their estimated value, as well as facts about their interiors and security features.

While some of the world's most powerful certainly opt for the height of luxury, the study shows that not all of the fleets are quite so ostentatious.

From the $1.5 billion (£1.2 billion) fleet of the Qatari royal family to the more modest choices of the General Secretary of China's Communist Party and Xi Jinping, scroll down for a look at the air travel habits of the most powerful leaders, monarchs, and billionaires in the world. The list is ranked in ascending order by estimated cost of their fleet or most expensive aircraft.

10. Queen Elizabeth II — £78.6 million.

The Queen of England, members of the Royal family and Great Britain’s government rely upon the 32nd squadron of the United Kingdom to get around.

These include two AW109 helicopters for travelling distances under 1,000 kilometres, six BAE-125 airplanes with a flight range up to 3,000 kilometres, as well as four mid-sized reactive BAE-146 airplanes. Queen Elizabeth II also has a personal helicopter, Sikorsky S-76 Spirit, as part of the Royal Household.

The total cost of the 32nd squadron fleet of the United Kingdom is estimated to be around $100 million (£78.6 million).

Until recently, the Royal Family leased ordinary Boeing 747s or Boeing 777s from British Airways or Virgin Atlantic for travelling long distances. Currently, the royal family can be transported by Royal Air Force airplanes and helicopters for important events.

9. Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah — £170 million.

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has a private jet — an Airbus A340-212— nicknamed the "Flying Palace." It cost the prince £80 million, and an additional £95 millon to modernise.

Its makeover included the addition of a luxurious cabin decorated with precious metals, gems, and valuable wood, as well as the instalment of the additional fuel tanks, increasing the non-stop flight range of his personal air force to 15,000 kilometres.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth visited residents, volunteers and emergency services at a center helping those affected by London's tower block fire on Friday, with grandson Prince William promising to return to hear residents' concerns.

The queen met locals on her way into the Westway Sports Center, which has been turned into a makeshift shelter after the blaze on Wednesday morning engulfed a 24-story tower block and killed at least 30 people.

As the royals were leaving the center, they were met with cheers but also anguished cries for help from a crowd of about 40 people.

One man held a poster of a missing person, and shouted that he wanted to speak to the queenabout lost children. The queen waved to the crowd, and then hesitated before getting into her car.

Some continued to shout in desperation prompting William to respond: "I'll come back, I'll come back."

Inside the sports center, which has become a major hub for the relief effort and a shelter for those displaced in the fire, the queen and prince met volunteers and emergency services.

"It's come over very strongly how good the community has been to help," the queen said.

The fire in the block in west London burned for hours, and authorities fear that the official death toll of 30 is likely to rise, with many of the dead unlikely ever to be identified.

London Fire chief Dany Cotton said that the intensity of the blaze was unlike anything she had ever seen, sentiments echoed by the prince.

"That's one of the most terrible things I have ever seen," William told a volunteer.

(Reporting by Hannah McKay, writing by Alistair Smout; editing by Michael Holden and Toby Davis)

SEE ALSO: At least 30 dead in Grenfell Tower fire as police confirm no evidence it was started deliberately

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LONDON (AP) — The annual count of swans belonging to Queen Elizabeth II has begun on the River Thames.

The five-day event known as Swan Upping dates back to the 12th Century and began as a ritual to ensure there were enough swans for feasting. Now it is more about conservation.

The British monarch traditionally claims ownership of all unmarked swans in open water.

Swan Uppers — a team of dedicated boat men — are tasked with finding swans on a specific stretch of the River Thames. When a group of cygnets is spotted, they cry "All Up" then mark the young birds and check them for disease or injury.

David Barber, the queen's official Swan Marker, hopes the event will draw attention to the threats young swans face on the river.

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In a changing world, few things have remained as constant as the British royal family.

People all over the world follow Queen Elizabeth II and her large family of kids and grandkids for their dose of inspiration, fashion, and even scandals throughout the years. Acting as a bellwether, the royal family is also a way of tracking the changing times.

Here is what everybody's favorite royals were doing on the year you were born:

SEE ALSO: Here's what the royal family actually does every day

DON'T MISS: Queen Elizabeth has been in power so long, 4 out of 5 UK residents weren't alive when she ascended the throne

1950: Queen Elizabeth II was a young princess in line to take over the throne after her father, King George VI.

Source: Britroyals.com

1951: Queen Elizabeth II had married Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark and given birth to two children, Charles and Anne.

Source: Britroyals.com

1952: After several years of ill health, King George VI died in February 1952. Princess Elizabeth was on a royal tour of Kenya when she found out.

Source: Britroyals.com

This might just be the most exclusive pub in the world — only 37 people have access.

The entry criteria? You must be a Beefeater or, officially, *deep breath*: Yeomen Warder of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London, and Member of the Sovereign's Body Guard of the Yeoman Guard Extraordinary.

It might not be the easiest title to fit on your LinkedIn profile, but it does allow you exclusive access to The Yeoman Warders Club — a pub set within the walls of the Tower of London itself.

These photos captured by Reuters News Agency provide a rare look into the Beefeaters' drinking hole. Scroll down for a look at the place where the elaborate red-trimmed dress coat can be shed after long days of endless photographs with tourists and time spent guarding Her Majesty's crown jewels.

Welcome to the Tower of London, 'a secure fortress, royal palace and infamous prison.' Over the years, the Tower has confined prisoners ranging from Elizabeth I to the Kray twins. Two of Henry VIII's wives were beheaded here.

Sources: Historic Royal Palaces, Reuters.

Now, though, it is one of London's foremost tourist sites. Around 3 million visitors take in the history of the Tower every year.

Source: London & Partners.

Among the Tower's many secrets is a pub. Tucked away in a private corner of the castle walls, this might be the most exclusive pub in the world.