IT IS fitting that the Queen today marks her 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne by renewing her pledge to serve the nation.

For six decades she has been head of state, representing stability and continuity and earning her the respect of leaders across the world.

Her Diamond Jubilee will be marked by a series of regional, national and international events during 2012, culminating in a fourday long Bank Holidayweekend in June.

There are those who don’t believe this is something worth celebrating but we believe the anniversary is something we should all celebrate.

Britain’s head of state already has the status of being the longest serving monarch after QueenVictoria.

And like her great-great-grandmother, who reigned formore than 63 years, she has helped define an era.

When she acceded to the throne as a young woman following the death of her father, George VI, on February 6, 1952, the country was unrecognisable fromtoday.

Throughout everything that has happened in those years it is always to the Queen whom the nation has turned to. Now in her 85th year, in an ever-changing world she has remained a constant.

Of course there have been dark periods, such as her “annus horribilis’’ in 1992, the year the Prince of Wales separated from Diana, the Duke of York split from Sarah, and the Princess Royal divorced Captain Mark Phillips.

And she faced criticism over her handling of the death of Diana in 1997. But the positives have always outweighed the negatives.

The Diamond Jubilee will be a momentous occasion tomark the life ofawoman who has remained true to her ideals.