Slideshow: Life of a queen

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As she marks her Diamond Jubilee, view images from the extraordinary life and long reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

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msnbc.com and news services— Meticulous preparations were underway for the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery ahead of their inspection on the parade ground before a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park to mark the 60th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in London.

The 41 gun salute also signifies the official start to the celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and comes after the King's Troop left their barracks in St. John's Wood for the final time.

Accession Day is usually marked quietly because it also marks the anniversary of the death of Elizabeth's father, King George VI. But it drew extra attention Monday because this year marks the queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration. Only Queen Victoria had a longer reign.

In pictures: Queen Elizabeth II marks 60 years on the throne

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

Horse grooming tools used by members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, left, and A member of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery shaves a horse, right.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

Gunner Zanna Bateman of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery prepares for an inspection on the parade ground of her barracks in St. John's Wood before departing to fire a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park to mark the 60 anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Feb. 6 in London, England.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

A member of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery checks the six First World War guns in preparation for an inspection on the parade ground of their barracks in St. John's Wood before departing to fire a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park to mark the 60 anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Feb. 6.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

Members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery prepare for an inspection on the parade ground of their barracks in St. John's Wood before departing to fire a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park to mark the 60 anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Feb. 6.

Oli Scarff / Getty Images

Members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery depart after firing a 41 gun salute in Hyde Park to mark the 60 anniversary of the accession of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Feb. 6.

Jane Bown / Camera Press

The Queen's 80th birthday portrait, taken in February 2006, is one of 60 photographs included in an exhibition at Windsor Castle's Drawings Gallery to celebrate The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

LONDON – It has been 60 years to the day since Britain was shocked by the bulletins: The King is dead; long live the Queen! 

The 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth was on tour in Kenya when she became queen on Feb. 6, 1952, following the death of her father, King George VI. She was informed by her husband, Prince Philip, as they walked in a garden at the Treetops hotel—after the news had been broadcast to the world.

Matt Dunham / AP

Members of The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery are seen through the smoke of their firing during a 41 Gun Salute to mark the official start of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in Hyde Park, London, on Feb. 6, 2012.

A storm delayed the queen's departure from Kenya until midnight. Then, there was an unscheduled stop in North Africa to get a black mourning dress aboard. She arrived in London in the fading light of the following day, where she was welcomed by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill. 

Sixty years on, Queen Elizabeth II promised on Monday to "dedicate myself anew to your service." 

"I hope also that this Jubilee year will be a time to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart," she wrote to her subjects in a message.

The queen is now the second longest-serving monarch in British history after Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901.

To mark the jubilee Windsor Castle is holding an exhibition, The Queen: 60 Photographs for 60 Years.

Jane Roberts of the Royal Library, who helped to put together the exhibit, told NBC News that the pictures "encapsulate the character of the Queen, her life, her extraordinary duty continuing through the 60 years she has been on the throne, her commitment to her family at all times, her love of life and all sorts of different aspects of official and private duties."

-- The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report

UPPA / Photoshot

The Queen returns to Buckingham Palace after the Coronation, June 2, 1953.

The Royal Collection

The Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh and their children (from left) Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Princess Anne. March 1960.

The Belfast Telegraph

The Queen visits Belfast, Aug. 8, 1961.

John Scott / Alpha Press

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh watching competitors at the Badminton Horse Trials, April 20, 1968.

The Telegraph

The Queen with Prince and Princess Michael of Kent at Epsom watching as Kahyasi wins the Derby, June 1, 1988.

Polly Borland / Camera Press

The Queen in 2001.

Slideshow: Life of a queen

Kirsty Wigglesworth / Pool via AP

View images from the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth II.

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Sharon Smith / Pool via AFP - Getty Images

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II watches Aboriginal dancers as she visits the Clontarf Aboriginal College in Perth on October 27, 2011. The queen, who arrived in Perth on October 26, will officially open the 54-nation Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on October 28 where revamping succession to the British throne will be discussed, concluding her 10-day tour.

Daniel Munoz / Pool via Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II looks at an Australian rules (AFL) football during her visit to Clontarf Aboriginal college on October 27, 2011 in Perth, Australia. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are on a 10-day visit to Australia went to Canberra, Brisbane, and Melbourne before heading to Perth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. This is the Queen's 16th official visit to Australia.

I think I would feel a little awkward dancing or handing the Queen a football.  

Human rights, food security and economic growth will be on the agenda at the meeting of Commonwealth nation leaders in Australia which the Queen will officially open on Friday. More from AP. 

Full story on the meeting's human rights agenda.