Queen Elizabeth now oldest monarch

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is now the oldest monarch in the world following the death of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who was thought to have been around 90 years old, historians say.

Elizabeth, 88, acceded to the throne in February 1952 on the death of her father, George VI.

She is older than Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, Malaysia's current head of state, and Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, both of whom are 87.

The Queen, who will turn 89 on April 21, is the second-longest reigning monarch in 1000 years of British history.

She is set to overtake her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, in September.

Victoria, who was born in May 1819, reigned from June 1837 until her death in January 1901.