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The following is a list, ordered by length of reign, of the monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1927–present), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1927), the Kingdom of Great Britain (1707–1801), the Kingdom of England (871–1707), the Kingdom of Scotland (878–1707), the Kingdom of Ireland (1542–1800), and the Principality of Wales (1216–1542).

Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch on 9 September 2015 when she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother Victoria.[1][2] On 6 February 2017 she became the first British monarch to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee, commemorating 65 years on the throne. She has reigned for 68 years as of February 2020.

Overall [ edit ]

These are the ten longest-reigning monarchs in the British Isles for whom there is reliable recorded evidence.

The longest claim by a pretender was that of James Francis Edward Stuart (the "Old Pretender"), who was the Jacobite pretender to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland for 64 years, 3 months, and 16 days (17 September 1701 – 1 January 1766).

Elizabeth II: the longest-reigning monarch [ edit ]

On 9 September 2015 (at the age of 89 years, 141 days), Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning female monarch in world history.[3][4] On 23 May 2016 (at the age of 90 years, 32 days), her reign surpassed the claimed reign of James Francis Edward Stuart (the "Old Pretender").[5] On 13 October 2016 (at the age of 90 years, 175 days), she became the world's longest-reigning current monarch (and the world's longest-serving current head of state) after the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), King of Thailand.[6][7]

If she is still reigning on:

6 February 2022 (at age 95 years, 291 days), she will celebrate her platinum jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. [8]

27 May 2024 (at age 98 years, 36 days), she will be the longest-reigning monarch of any sovereign state, surpassing Louis XIV of France, who reigned for 72 years, 110 days. [9]

21 April 2026 (at age 100 years, 0 days), she will celebrate her 100th birthday, becoming the only centenarian sovereign monarch in history. [10]

6 February 2027 (at age 100 years, 291 days), she will celebrate her palladium jubilee, marking 75 years on the throne.

Unitary monarchy [ edit ]

United Kingdom [ edit ]

On 1 January 1801 the Kingdom of Great Britain united with the Kingdom of Ireland to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, becoming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by Act of Parliament in 1927[11] following the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Name Reign Duration From To (days) (years, days) Elizabeth II 6 February 1952 Present 25,064 68 years, 227 days[12] Victoria 20 June 1837 22 January 1901 23,226 63 years, 216 days George V 6 May 1910 20 January 1936 9,390 25 years, 259 days George III[13] 1 January 1801 29 January 1820 6,967 19 years, 28 days George VI 11 December 1936 6 February 1952 5,535 15 years, 57 days George IV 29 January 1820 26 June 1830 3,801 10 years, 148 days Edward VII 22 January 1901 6 May 1910 3,391 9 years, 104 days William IV 26 June 1830 20 June 1837 2,551 6 years, 359 days Edward VIII 20 January 1936 11 December 1936 326 326 days

Great Britain [ edit ]

On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union 1707, the Kingdom of England united with the Kingdom of Scotland as the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Name Reign Duration From To (days) (years, days) George III[13]

25 October 1760 1 January 1801 14,677 40 years, 68 days George II 22 June 1727 25 October 1760 12,168 33 years, 114 days George I 1 August 1714 11 June 1727 4,697 12 years, 314 days Anne[14] 1 May 1707 1 August 1714 2,649 7 years, 92 days

Kingdoms [ edit ]

England [ edit ]

Includes English monarchs from the installation of Alfred the Great as King of Wessex in 871 to Anne (House of Stuart) and the Acts of Union on 1 May 1707, when the crown became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Scotland [ edit ]

Includes Scottish monarchs from the installation of Kenneth I (House of Alpin) in 848 to Anne (House of Stuart) and the Acts of Union on 1 May 1707, when the crown became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Ireland [ edit ]

The High King of Ireland (846–1198) was primarily a titular title (with the exception of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair who was regarded as the first "King of Ireland"). The later Kingdom of Ireland (1542–1800) came into being under the Crown of Ireland Act 1542, the long title of which was "An Act that the King of England, his Heirs and Successors, be Kings of Ireland". In 1801 the Irish crown became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

Name Reign Duration From To (days) (years, days) Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair 1166 1193 c. 26-27 years Edward Bruce (disputed) June 1315 14 October 1318 c. 3 years, 100 days Brian Ua Néill (disputed) 1258 1260 c. 1-2 years

Principalities [ edit ]

Gwynedd [ edit ]

The Principality (or Kingdom) of Gwynedd (5th century–1216) was based in northwest Wales, its rulers were repeatedly acclaimed as "King of the Britons" before losing their power in civil wars or Saxon and Norman invasions. In 1216 it was superseded by the title Principality of Wales, although the new title was not first used until the 1240s.

Wales [ edit ]

The Principality of Wales (1216–1542) was a client state of England for much of its history, except for brief periods when it was de facto independent under a Welsh Prince of Wales (see House of Aberffraw). From 1301 it was first used as a title of the English (and later British) heir apparent. The Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542 formally incorporated all of Wales within the Kingdom of England.

Charles, Prince of Wales, is the longest-serving Prince of Wales, with a tenure of 62 years, 56 days since his proclamation as such in 1958.

See also [ edit ]