Queen Elizabeth II became the UK’s longest reigning monarch this week, surpassing her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.

To mark this historic occasion, the GDN looks back at the long and illustrious relationship between Bahrain and the UK.

Although the Queen visited Bahrain several times in the 1980s, her only official state visit was in February 1979.

She was accompanied by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, on this occasion and was greeted at Mina Salman by the late Amir His Highness Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Al Hilal Group managing director Ronnie Middleton remembers the sense of excitement among the crowd.

“She came in on the Royal Yacht Britannia and was greeted by expat children waving flags,” he said.

“There was a very positive feeling to her visit, people were excited and upbeat.

“Bahrain has always had that close relationship between the two royal families.

“I remember she had lunch at the Holiday Inn – at what is now the Crowne Plaza Hotel – and toured the country.”

Bahrain gained independence from the UK in 1971 and has since maintained strong diplomatic, military and trade relations.

Last year, goods and services worth £155.9 million (BD90.6m) were exported to the UK from Bahrain, while £295.5m (BD171.8m) in imports were recorded.

British Ambassador-designate Simon Martin noted that the “longstanding mutual respect and very warm relationship” between the two kingdoms has spanned the entirety of the Queen’s reign.

“Over the last 63 years, Her Majesty has witnessed many changes in the UK and across the world and as Prime Minister David Cameron said, she has been a rock of stability,” he told the GDN.

“Her Majesty remembers fondly her state visit to Bahrain in February 1979 and holds an affection for this country and its people.”

laala@gdn.com.bh