Queen Elizabeth becomes the world's oldest head of state after Robert Mugabe resigns aged 93

The Queen is now the oldest head of state in the world
PA
Tom Powell22 November 2017

Queen Elizabeth II is now the world's oldest living head of state following Robert Mugabe's resignation as president of Zimbabwe at the age of 93.

Aged 91, the Queen is already Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, a record held by Queen Victoria until she was surpassed in September 2015.

The monarch narrowly beats Beji Caid Essebsi of Tunisia, aged 90, and Kuwait’s 88-year-old Sheikh Sabah IV to top spot.

On Monday, the Queen celebrated the 70th anniversary of her marriage to Prince Philip.

World's oldest heads of state

1. Queen Elizabeth II, United Kingdom: Age - 91

2. Beji Caid Essebsi, Tunisia: Age - 90

3. Sheikh Sabah IV Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait: Age - 88

4. Raul Castro, Cuba: Age - 86

5. Paul Biya, Cameroon: Age - 84

6. Michel Aoun, Lebanon: Age - 84

Bells rang out at Westminster Abbey to honour seven decades since the day the future monarch Princess Elizabeth, then 21, walked up the aisle at the Abbey to marry her dashing Greek and Danish prince in 1947.

At 1pm, the Abbey's Company of Ringers began a complicated peal consisting of 5,070 changes or sequences, with the 70 a nod to the platinum anniversary.

It took the team of 10 ringers around three hours and 20 minutes to complete, as they delivered the tribute without a break.

It is a historic tradition that the Abbey bells are rung for significant royal occasions and anniversaries, and the Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum wedding anniversary.

Queen Elizabeth with Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace in 1997
AFP/Getty Images

The fairy-tale royal wedding was a morale boost in the tough years that followed the Second World War and millions of people tuned in to listen to the ceremony on the wireless.

Zimbabwe's parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda confirmed Mugabe’s resignation this afternoon after a motion was delivered to have him impeached for refusing to step down.

The 93-year-old, who has given up his position after 37 years as leader, said he resigned to “allow a smooth transfer of power”.

In a resignation letter, he wrote: "Kindly give public notice of my decision as soon as possible.

"My decision to resign is voluntary on my part."

Queen Elizabeth II - In pictures

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