Record reign matched by travel far and wide, and all without passport

The Queen last visited New Zealand in 2002 with the Duke of Edinburgh, one of her 265 official visits to 116 countries. Photo / Mark Mitchell

With just 10 days to go until the Queen overtakes Queen Victoria as Britain's longest-serving monarch, the comparisons between their reigns will be plentiful.

There is, however, one aspect of their tenures where there can be no comparison - their experience of foreign travel.

While Victoria reigned over more than 70 countries, she never left Europe. Queen Elizabeth II, monarch of 16 realms, has set foot in 116 countries during 265 official visits. Not bad for someone who doesn't possess a passport.

Put another way, the Queen has been to Canada more times than all of Victoria's official foreign excursions combined.

She has been to New Zealand 10 times. Her last visit was in 2002, as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations.

On September 9, the day the Queen overtakes Victoria's record reign of 63 years, seven months and two days, her milestone will be celebrated with no more than a trip to the Scottish Borders, where she will open a new railway, largely as a nod to the public's demand to see her on the big day.

The Queen herself has always made it clear she did not want a "fuss" made over the day, telling courtiers it should be "business as usual".

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, however, may have other plans as they are expected to be staying at Balmoral on September 9, giving them the chance to surprise her, perhaps with a celebratory cake.

And the Queen will be powerless to stop celebrations in the 53 Commonwealth countries.

Canada has had by far the largest number of royal visits, at 24, with Australia a distant second at 16 and New Zealand in third with 10.

Her Majesty's duty to visit Commonwealth countries means she has been to Barbados, Fiji and Jamaica six times each, compared with just five visits each to France, Germany, India and the US.

Such major world players as China, Russia, Brazil and Japan have been visited only once.

And unlike the rest of us, the Queen is not free to travel just anywhere. Israel and Greece remain beyond her reach for political reasons, Israel because of the never-ending tensions in the region, and Greece because it exiled the Duke of Edinburgh and his family when he was a child.

Despite her experience of what the world has to offer, the Queen has never hinted she would like to have lived anywhere else.

Queen Victoria, however, once said that if it had not been for her position in life, she would rather have lived in Bavaria, a place she visited seven times.

Queen Elizabeth, who is 89, has remained energetic and busy throughout her 63 years (and counting) on the throne. This year she made a state visit to Germany and in November she will fly to Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.

Victoria, on the other hand, was so infirm by the time of her Diamond Jubilee in 1897 that she was unable to get out of her carriage for a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral. Instead, the service had to be held outside so that the congregation could assemble around her.

The previous year, 1896, Queen Victoria had surpassed her grandfather, George III, as the longest-reigning monarch.

And like Queen Elizabeth, she did not want any fuss, asking that any special celebrations be delayed until the Diamond Jubilee.

Victoria died on January 22, 1901, at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight, where she spent every Christmas. She had reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes.

The Queen will overtake her record about 5.30pm (UK time) on Wednesday, September 9.

It will be a record that may never be surpassed.