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Gun salutes have rung out across the capital to commemorate the Queen making history by becoming the first British monarch to reach their Sapphire Jubilee.

It is 65 years to the day since the Queen acceded to the throne following the death of her father, George VI, on February 6 1952.

The Queen has spent the day privately at her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where the monarch spends her winter break.

Members of the Honourable Artillery Company fire a 62 round royal gun salute from the Gun Wharf outside the Tower of London with Tower Bridge today in honour of the Queen's Sapphire Jubilee 

But in London a 41-gun salute was fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park at noon.

The Band of the Royal Artillery played a selection of celebratory music close to the firing position, and 89 horses pulled the six First World War-era 13-pounder field guns into position in the park.

The Honourable Artillery Company fired volleys at the Tower of London to mark the Sapphire Jubilee of the Queen's accession.

They fired a 62-round Royal Salute from Gun Wharf at 1pm - with an extra 21 volleys for the citizens of the City of London to show their loyalty to the monarch.

The Queen spent her jubilee privately at her home in Sandringham the gun salute was had in her honour with guns let off across the capital 

Elsewhere in the city members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery arrive to stage a 41-Gun Royal Salute in Green Park

The Queen was in good spirits on Sunday as she greeted well-wishers after attending a church service at St Peter & St Paul in West Newton, Norfolk.

Three-year-old Jessica Atfield, who dressed specially for the occasion in a Union flag skirt, was delighted when she handed a bunch of flowers to the Queen.

The Queen, who missed church over Christmas due to a heavy cold, will undoubtedly be matter-of-fact about the historic occasion.

Passers by stood and watched while the troops let fire in the central London park on Monday 

Gunfire could also be heard elsewhere in the country as members of the 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, fire a 21-gun salute in York's Museum Gardens

In 2015, when she thanked the nation for the kind messages after overtaking Queen Victoria to become the longest-reigning monarch in British history, she admitted bluntly that the royal record was "not one to which I have ever aspired".

She added: "Inevitably, a long life can pass by many milestones. My own is no exception."

The Queen celebrated her 90th birthday last year and had a busy schedule commemorating the occasion, with a walkabout, beacon-lighting and a black tie dinner for family and friends in Windsor on her actual birthday.

In Edinburgh the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland play prior to a 21-gun salute at Edinburgh Castle, to mark the anniversary

Members of C Troop 211 Battery, which forms part of 104 Regiment Royal Artillery, fire a 21-gun salute in the grounds of Cardiff Castle

A weekend of national celebrations, including a party in The Mall, was held for her official birthday in June.

It is likely that any large-scale jubilee celebrations will be reserved for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 - although any events will take into account the fact that Queen is due to turn 96 that year.

The Duke of Cambridge is about to become a full-time royal this summer and will increase his official duties on behalf of the Queen.

The Queen, who is currently at home in Sandringham, seemed to be in especially high spirits on Sunday morning as she arrived for a church service in Norfolk. Pictured: a well wisher takes a photo on his tablet

William and the Duchess of Cambridge were carrying out official engagements on Monday, but not to do with the Queen's record-breaking reign.

As the anniversary of Elizabeth II's accession to the throne marks the day her father died it is likely to be a reflective one.

She often spends Accession Day privately at Sandringham, staying there through the Christmas period. She usually makes her return to Buckingham Palace a few days later. 

The Queen, who was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, was presented with several bouquets of flowers on Sunday morning including a posy from three-year-old Jessica Atfield

It was clearly Jessica's festive outfit of a skirt decorated with the Union Jack which caught Her Majesty's attention on the frosty February morning