Queen Elizabeth II, the United Kingdom’s longest serving monarch
September 9, 2015
At 5:30 p.m. London time on September 9, 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth II officially became the longest serving monarch in British history. Elizabeth became queen upon the death of her father, King George VI, in 1952. Her record reign—63 years, 216 days, 16 hours, and 23 minutes—broke the record of her great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria, who ruled the British Empire (presumably for 1 minute less) from 1837 to 1901. In her own right, Victoria broke King George III’s record reign of 59 years (1760 to 1820) on Sept. 23, 1896.
Queen Elizabeth II poses during her coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey in 1953. (© Cecil Beaton, Camera Press/Redux Pictures)
Elizabeth’s endurance record was celebrated in London by a flotilla of ships on the River Thames, sounding guns, horns, and cheers. Prime Minister David Cameron and members of Parliament halted business to attend the tribute to the queen, but Elizabeth was absent, choosing not to toot her own horn. She instead conducted business as usual, opening the Scottish Borders Railway in Tweedbank, Scotland. She gave a short speech, crediting the reign milestone with the simple luck of having lived a long life. Elizabeth thanked well-wishers from around the world before retiring to the royal residence at Balmoral.
So who holds the record for shortest reign? It’s disputed, but Lady Jane Grey’s brief, unhappy 9-day reign is the shortest. Lady Jane was born into turbulent times, reluctantly becoming queen upon the death of her cousin King Edward VI in 1553. Her ambitious half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth both wanted the throne for themselves, however. “Bloody Mary” (Queen Mary I) took control first, having Jane imprisoned and then executed. Mary died just five years later, to be succeeded by Elizabeth, whose 44-year reign ranks 8th in British history.
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