Queen Elizabeth II is voted the greatest ever monarch, YouGov poll reveals

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Queen won 27% of votes in a YouGov popularity poll for The Sunday Times
Second place was Elizabeth I earning 13%, with Victoria getting 12%
On Wednesday, the Queen will become the longest-reigning monarch ever

By Jack Crone for MailOnline

Published: 11:00 EST, 6 September 2015 | Updated: 13:26 EST, 6 September 2015

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Popular: The Queen has been voted the greatest ever monarch

She's about to become the country's longest ever reigning monarch - and Queen Elizabeth II has been voted the greatest.

The Queen won 27 per cent of votes in a YouGov poll for The Sunday Times, with Elizabeth I earning 13 per cent of the votes and Queen Victoria 12 per cent.

On Wednesday, she will overtake Victoria as the longest serving monarch, beating her great-great grandmother's record of 63 years and 216 days on the throne.

The Queen made her annual appearance at the Braemar Games in the Highlands yesterday in keeping with a tradition established by Victoria in 1848.

According to the YouGov poll, she is almost exactly as popular as when she took over from her father King George VI in 1952.

Despite her overwhelming popularity, her subjects believe it's unlikely an era will be named after her - as her reign has been less important than the Victorian years or the first Elizabethan age of 1558 - 1603.

Many also agree with historian David Starkey's comments that she has never said or done anything memorable - instead acting as a pragamatist whose sole purpose was 'to keep the royal show on the road'.

A survey found that 43 per cent of people agreed with this view.

In April the Queen turns 90, yet there is no clear indication she plans to abdicate.

Another poll found that 50 per cent of her subjects believe she should step down if she becomes too ill to regularly carry out public duties.

Most of those surveyed say they are ready to entrust the Prince of Wales with the role of Prince Regent, with 43 per cent in favour and 33 per cent against.

Close runners: Behind the Queen came Elizabeth I with 13 per cent of the votes and Queen Victoria with 12 per cent of the votes

The attittude of acceptance is not extended to the prospect of Camilla as Queen, with only 16 per cent wanting to her to take the title if Charles becomes king.

An overwhelming 38 per cent would prefer her to have the title of Princess Consort.

People aged 60 and older showed the strongest support for the Queen - with 40 per cent believing the monarchy has become more popular during her reign.

Conservative voters were most likely to label her the greatest monarch ever (39%), with Labour voters the least impressed (21%).

Having originally intended to spend Wednesday in private, the Queen will now break her holiday at Balmoral to open the new Borders Railway