The Longest Reigning Monarch
Today is the day!
Yes, today marks the day that Queen Elizabeth II, the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, becomes the longest reigning monarch……ever!
Queen Victoria, the great grandmother of Queen Elizabeth, reigned for 63 years and 216 days….a very long time, especially in her day when 63 years was a good life span!
Today, Queen Elizabeth surpasses that amount of days on the throne.
Whilst being a Queen and having everything and everyone at your fingertips seems perhaps rather glorious, Queen Elizabeth has been definitely a Queen of Service! She takes serving her country very seriously and has pledged, throughout her reign, to serve until she leaves us. “It is a job for life,” the 89-year-old Elizabeth once said, and unlike some European monarchs recently, and even a pope, she is not expected to abdicate.
While the world and British society have changed dramatically during her reign, the queen has always appeared dependable and reassuring. Despite traumas in the 1990s, such as the death of Princess Diana, that seemed to threaten the monarchy’s very existence, the queen has been able to lead the thousand-year-old institution into a new era of popularity.
Here is a great “run down” on the Queen’s reign by by Denis Hiault:
“Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor’s birth on April 21, 1926 was a relatively minor event for a world teetering between two world wars and just three years away from the Great Depression.
The curly-haired “Lilibet” was destined for marriage, not the throne.
But after reigning for just 325 days, her childless uncle Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American.
Princess Elizabeth’s father inherited the crown as George VI (detailed in the King’s Speech) and she suddenly became heir to the throne.
When the young Elizabeth and her sister Margaret had to move to Buckingham Palace, she asked her nanny: “What — you mean forever?”
On her 21st birthday, she vowed to spend her life serving her country.
On November 20, 1947 she married Philip — a distant cousin who renounced his titles as prince of Greece and Denmark and his career in the Royal Navy to be with her. She has described him as “my strength and stay”.
When George VI died at the age of 56 in 1952 she became queen aged just 25 and with two young children: Charles (born in 1948) and Anne (1950). Two others came later — Andrew (1960) and Edward (1964).
Her role is highly ceremonial and she remains above the fray of politics.
Every year, she reads out the programme of the government of the day at the State Opening of Parliament.
Her voice remains neutral and high-pitched, even when the proposals include measures she is suspected of opposing, such as banning the traditional sport of fox-hunting.
“Ma’am” (that rhymes with “ham) as her subjects address her, also presides over the Commonwealth composed of 54 members, including 15 former colonies where she is still the sovereign, such as Australia and Canada.
Usually dressed in bright colours so as to be seen by everyone despite her petite size, she has carried out some groundbreaking and exotic visits including to China, the Vatican and the Cocos Islands.
“The primary role of the monarchy is to sell the British brand and the queen is very good at it,” said royal biographer Robert Jobson.
Despite the widespread respect she now commands, her reign has had plenty of ups and downs.
In 1981, her heir Charles married Diana in a fairytale wedding that quickly turned sour despite the birth of their two sons William and Harry.
She called 1992 her “annus horribilis” when the marriages of three of her children — Charles, Anne and Andrew — fell apart and her castle in Windsor was badly burnt in a fire.
In 1997, the queen was accused of being out of touch as her subjects wept for the death of Diana in a Paris car crash while she remained at her country estate in Scotland for days before coming to acknowledge the crowds of mourners in London.
In the two decades since, though, there has been a remarkable turnaround for the monarchy — helped along by a powerful communications machine.
The queen has cut palace budgets and William’s marriage to commoner Kate Middleton has helped create the image of a more modern monarchy.
Her 66-year-old son Charles is increasingly taking her place at public engagements but experts agree that she will most likely hold on to the end and not follow her Dutch and Spanish royal peers by abdicating.
“It’s possible going forward if she wasn’t feeling particularly well or was physically infirm that her son Prince Charles could act as regent,” said Jobson. “Nobody is saying she would abdicate.”
She has visited 132 countries, posed for 139 portraits and given thousands of speeches, though never an interview. Her private life is largely a mystery.
The monarchy’s official website says she still goes horse riding and has 30 Corgi dogs in her palaces.
Rare indiscretions from palace insiders have revealed her love of the “Racing Post” newspaper’s horse racing tips, a Dubonnet and gin before lunch and crossword puzzles.”
Apparently, the Queen is celebrating this milestone today at Balmoral Castle with many other Royals, including William, Catherine and children.
We say, “Well done” to Her Royal Majesty!
PS We thought you would like to see a few fun facts about Queen Elizabeth.
CORGIS, SWANS, ROYAL FISH
Elizabeth’s love of the corgi is well known. Her father, George VI, introduced the breed to the royal famiy in 1933 when he bought a corgi called Dookie. The animal proved popular with his daughters, and the queen was given her first corgi, Susan, for her 18th birthday. She has owned over 30 corgis during her reign — many were direct descendants from Susan.
Elizabeth also introduced a new breed of dog known as the “dorgi” when one of her corgis was mated with a dachshund named Pipkin.
As monarch, Elizabeth technically owns all the thousands of pairs of mute swans in open British water, and an annual census dating back to the 12th century — “Swan Upping” — takes place every year in southern England. The queen also officially has the right to claim all “Royal Fish” — sturgeons, porpoises, whales and dolphins — according to a statute from 1324
“GREAT MIMICKER”
Elizabeth often gives the impression of seriousness and many have noted her “poker face.” But those who know her describe her as having a relaxed sense of humor and a talent for mimicry in private company.
Bishop Michael Mann, the monarch’s domestic chaplain, once said that “the queen imitating the Concorde landing is one of the funniest things you could see.” Ian Paisley, the Northern Irish clergyman and politician, also noted that Elizabeth was a “great mimicker” of him.
Royal commentator Hugo Vickers, who has met the queen several times, describes her as “quite fun” and much more well-informed than one would expect.
“Once I suddenly said something completely obscure” about a New Zealand Maori chief, he said. “She knew exactly what I was talking about.”
POLITICIANS AND POPES
Over her reign Elizabeth has given regular Tuesday evening audiences to 12 British prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher to David Cameron. Tony Blair is the first prime minister to have been born during the queen’s reign. Thatcher served the longest, more than 11 years.
Elizabeth’s reign also oversaw seven popes, from Pius XII to Francis. As the titular head of the Church of England, the queen received John Paul II at Buckingham Palace in 1982 — the first pope to visit Britain for 450 years. She also received Benedict XVI to Britain in 2010.
JET-SET MONARCH
It’s safe to say that Elizabeth has traveled more than any other monarch in history. Since her first official overseas visit to South Africa in 1947, she has made hundreds more trips to more than 110 countries. Among her most visited are her “major realms”: 24 times to Canada, 16 to Australia, 10 to New Zealand and six to Jamaica.
Elizabeth was the first British monarch to have made state visits to China (1986), Russia (1994), and Brunei and Malaysia (1998). She was also the first British monarch to have set foot in the Republic of Ireland since the 1911 tour by her grandfather, George V, when it was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
At 89 the queen is still traveling — in November, she plans to fly to Malta for a Commonwealth event.
HALL OF FAME
Elizabeth is the longest-reigning female monarch in the world today. Her years on the throne are second only to King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, 87, the world’s current longest-serving head of state. The king, who came to the throne in 1946, has reigned for 69 years and is widely revered by Thais.
Other current heads of state who have reigned for more than 50 years include 87-year-old Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, the constitutional monarch of Malaysia.
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Being a big fan of everything British, and of all my fond trips to England & Scotland, as well as of the Monarchy and it’s history, I have waited several years for this day to arrive. I greatly respect & admire Queen Elizabeth for all she has stood for and accomplished in her 64 year reign.
I greatly rejoice for all the good that has unfolded during Queen Elizabeth’s long reign. I hope she lives, at least, as long as her own dear Mother, The Queen Mum. The rest of her family can wait in line while dear Queen Elizabeth continues to bring grace and dignity to her Throne and to her country.
“Long live the Queen!”
A lovely tribute as the closing story on ZNBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.