Queen Elizabeth II has ruled Great Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations, including Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, and many others, since June 1953. The queen’s reign is the longest in British history as she has surpassed Queen Victoria (ruled 1819-1901) and the monarch shows no signs of slowing down!
The Third Longest Reign in History
According to Carolyn Harris from the University of Toronto, the longest reign of all time in British history is none other than of Queen Elizabeth II herself. She became the Queen on June 2, 1953, in Britain’s first-ever televised coronation. She is third on the overall list of monarchs in history. The longest reign belongs to Louis XIV of France, with a staggering 72-year reign, as per the studies done by the Department of History, University of Kentucky. The second-longest reign belongs to King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who ruled for a little over 70 years.
Accession to the throne
The British monarchy has lasted more than 1,200 years, and spanned over 37 generations. During this time, 61 royals occupied the throne, according to Historic UK. Queen Elizabeth II became queen when her father, King George VI, passed away on February 6, 1952. Her coronation took place on June 2, 1953. At the time of her accession, she was 25 years old and had been married to Prince Philip for five years. The union was blessed with four children which are Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward.
Platinum Jubilee
In 2002, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, marking 50 years on the throne. The Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee this year, becoming the first British monarch to reach this remarkable milestone. This lavish four-day pageant was held from June 2 to June 5, 2022. The festivities included an impressive concert lineup from legends Elton John and the band Queen. Not only that, Queen Elizabeth herself appeared in a pre-recorded comedy sketch with Paddington Bear.