Today, September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-serving king or queen in the history of the British monarchy. In June 1953, Gramophone's Founder and Editor Compton Mackenzie celebrated Elizabeth's coronation in his own inimitable style, on behalf of Gramophone's readers, contributors, staff and advertisers. To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's achievement, we reprint Mackenzie's tribute below... 

It may be doubted if any paper has been able to celebrate its entry into its thirty-first year within a day of the Coronation of a Queen. In June, 1923, such a prospect would have seemed a fairy tale of the future and it is with an emotion of profound gratitude for this astonishing and happy coincidence that in the name of our readers, our contributors, our staff and our advertisers I declare our fealty to a young Sovereign and affirm our conviction that under Almighty God She will lead this old country out of present difficulties into a future truly glorious. Nobody who has listened to that recorded voice can be deaf to the sense of destiny that inspires it. Simple faith is manifest behind every word The Queen has spoken. I am paying no conventional tribute of loyalty and though I lack the eloquence to express all that they feel at this moment I will ask our readers throughout the world to join with me in this tribute to our young and much beloved Queen. 

We wish Your Majesty the achievement of every high hope, the consummation of every noble ambition, and the completion of every fine design. We wish Your Majesty the happiness and the glory of a long reign rich in renown, preserved from war and devoted to the fulfilment of the Divine purpose. 

Music is the only common tongue of humanity, and with the music we love we offer Your Majesty our homage in this most memorable month of June. From Iceland in the North to Invercargill in the South and from Tokyo in the East to San Francisco in the West the readers of The Gramophone, whether they be Your Majesty's subjects or not, will say with me "GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!"

Compton Mackenzie