<
Buckingham Palace has calculated that Queen Victoria reigned
for 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes, taking into account 63
years, 15 leap days, additional months and days and the precise
timings of her accession and death. By those calculations, Queen
Elizabeth II will overtake Victoria on September 9th, 2015,
taking into account 63 years plus 16 leap days, additional
months and days and the exact time of George VI’s death.
“It’s a very significant milestone. The Queen will become the
longest reigning British monarch in history. She came to the throne
when she was older than Victoria. Victoria was only 18,” said
historian, Dr Kate Williams. “It shows that our female monarchs
last the longest. The Queen’s longevity is a great source of her
strength and popularity. She has lived through World War Two and
throughout the 20th century.”
Queen Victoria ascended the throne upon the death of her
uncle, William IV, on June 20, 1837, less than a month after
her 18th birthday. Her husband, Prince Albert, died when he was
just 42, and Victoria remained in mourning for the rest of her
life. She died on January 22, 1901, aged 81, and was succeeded by
her eldest son, who ruled as King Edward VII.
Her Majesty, on the other hand, became Queen Elizabeth II on
February 6, 1952, when her father King George VI died. The Queen,
who was only 25 at the time, received information of her
father’s passing and her accession whilst in Kenya on a royal tour.
The news was broken to her by her husband, Prince Philip, who
continues to support Her Majesty even today. He holds the record
for the longest serving British consort.
One would think that an event as significant as making history for
being the longest reigning monarch would be a cause for
celebration, but according to a Buckingham Palace spokesman,
this milestone will be just another day for Her Majesty. “The
Queen traditionally spends the month of September at Balmoral,” he
said. “Next year is unlikely to be any different.”
Her Majesty already holds a number of records. At 88, she is the
longest living British monarch, having overtaken Queen Victoria in
2007, and in 2011, she overtook King George III to become the
second-longest reigning monarch. The Queen is also the second
longest-serving head of state alive today, after
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, who came to the throne in
1946.
Photo credit: Mikepaws via photopin cc]]>
