List of monarchs in Britain by length of reign facts for kids

Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch, reigned from 6 February 1952 until her death on 8 September 2022.

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 (1707–1800), 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 monarch in British history on 9 September 2015 when she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. On 6 February 2017, she became the first British monarch to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee, commemorating 65 years on the throne. On 6 February 2022, Elizabeth II became the first British monarch to reign for 70 years, and large-scale celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee occurred on 2 to 5 June. Later that year, Elizabeth II died at the age of 96, after reigning for 70 years and 214 days.

Elizabeth II: the longest-reigning monarch

Elizabeth II delivering a speech at the official opening of the Borders Railway, on the day she became the longest reigning British monarch

On 9 September 2015, Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning known female monarch in world history. On 23 May 2016, her reign surpassed the claimed reign of James Francis Edward Stuart (nicknamed "the Old Pretender"). On 6 February 2022 (at the age of 95 years, 291 days), she became the first British monarch to reign for 70 years and celebrate a platinum jubilee.

Ten longest-reigning British monarchs

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

Rank	Portrait	Monarch	Age at accession	Reign		Duration
				From	To	Days	Years, days
1		Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom	25 years, 291 days	6 February 1952	8 September 2022	25,782	70 years, 214 days
2		Victoria of the United Kingdom	18 years, 27 days	20 June 1837	22 January 1901	23,226	63 years, 216 days
3		George III of the United Kingdom	22 years, 143 days	25 October 1760	29 January 1820	21,644	59 years, 96 days
4		James VI and I	1 year, 35 days	24 July 1567	27 March 1625	21,066	57 years, 246 days
5		Henry III of England	9 years, 27 days	28 October 1216	16 November 1272	20,473	56 years, 19 days
6		Edward III of England	14 years, 73 days	25 January 1327	20 June 1377	18,410	50 years, 147 days
7		William I of Scotland	ca. 24 years	9 December 1165	4 December 1214	17,892	48 years, 360 days
8		Llywelyn of Gwynedd	ca. 22 years	1195	11 April 1240	16,173–16,902	c. 44–46 years
9		Elizabeth I of England	25 years, 71 days	17 November 1558	24 March 1603	16,198	44 years, 127 days
10		David II of Scotland	5 years, 94 days	7 June 1329	22 February 1371	15,235	41 years, 260 days

Complete list of the unitary monarchy

Great Britain

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.

United Kingdom

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 following the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Complete list of the kingdoms

England

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

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

The High King of Ireland (846–1198) was primarily a titular ruler (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.

List of the Principalities

Gwynedd (incomplete list)

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 (complete list)

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.

See also

• Monarchy of the United Kingdom
• List of British monarchs
• List of British monarchy records
• Family tree of the British royal family
• List of longest-reigning monarchs