Youngsters across Havering dressed in red, white and blue to celebrate the Queen becoming the longest reigning monarch yesterday.

At Crowlands Primary School, London Road, Romford, children and staff held a traditional tea party to mark the historic day,

Assistant headteacher Alicia Argire said: “It was exciting to be part of history. The children were very happy to celebrate.

“We carried out a range of cross-curricular activities throughout the day, dressed in red, white and blue.

“We finished the day with a celebratory British tea party in honour of the Queen.”

And at Gidea Park Primary School, South Drive, Gidea Park, children – also in union flag colours – enjoyed a garden party.

Deputy head Amanda Conner said the picnic, which followed a day of learning about the monarchy, was “great fun”.

“The children really enjoyed it,” she said. “After learning all about the Queen’s reign the picnic was a nice way to round off the celebration for the whole school.

“And the were all dressed in red, white and blue, so we had a few imaginative hairstyles!”

Speaking in the Scottish Borders yesterday, the 89-year-old said the title of the longest reigning monarch was “not one to which I have ever aspired”.

At 5.30pm she had reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes – surpassing her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.