The New Nation - Internet Edition

LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II was set Thursday to become Britain's oldest monarch, overtaking her great- great grandmother Queen Victoria amid signs the royal family is preparing for life after 81-year-old "Lillibet". Victoria died in 1901 aged 81 years and 243 days, and Elizabeth will mark passing the milestone with neither pomp nor ceremony, spending the day as usual with her husband of 60 years, Prince Philip. According to Buckingham Palace, Elizabeth was to pass Victoria's record at around 5:00 pm (1700 GMT) Thursday-taking into account times of birth and death. Other observers, counting only in whole days, put the mark as Saturday.