Support 100 years of independent journalism.

  1. Chart of the Day
19 September 2022

The world’s longest reigning monarchs in world history

Only France’s Louis XIV served for longer on the throne.

By Ben Walker

The Queen at Balmoral in 1952, the first year of her reign. Photo by Bettmann/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II was the second-longest reigning monarch in world history, surpassed only by Louis XIV of France. The Queen served for 25,782 days (or 70 years) while the “Sun King” served for 26,407 (or 72 years).

Elizabeth was the longest-reigning monarch in English and British history, surpassing Victoria’s reign by more than 2,000 days or seven years. Victoria ascended to the throne at the age of 18, whereas Elizabeth was 25.

This article was originally published on 9th September 2022

[See also: The Queen's death leaves a nation unsure of its place in the world]

Select and enter your email address Quick and essential guide to domestic and global politics from the New Statesman's politics team. The New Statesman’s global affairs newsletter, every Monday and Friday. Your new guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture each weekend - from the New Statesman. A weekly newsletter helping you fit together the pieces of the global economic slowdown. A newsletter showcasing the finest writing from the ideas section, covering political ideas, philosophy, criticism and intellectual history - sent every Wednesday. The New Statesman’s weekly environment email on the politics, business and culture of the climate and nature crises - in your inbox every Thursday. Sign up to receive information regarding NS events, subscription offers & product updates.
  • Administration / Office
  • Arts and Culture
  • Board Member
  • Business / Corporate Services
  • Client / Customer Services
  • Communications
  • Construction, Works, Engineering
  • Education, Curriculum and Teaching
  • Environment, Conservation and NRM
  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
  • Finance Management
  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • OH&S, Risk Management
  • Operations Management
  • Planning, Policy, Strategy
  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
  • Purchasing and Procurement
  • Quality Management
  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
  • Service Delivery
  • Sport and Recreation
  • Travel, Accommodation, Tourism
  • Wellbeing, Community / Social Services
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU

Content from our partners
Supporting customers through the cost of living crisis
Supporting customers through the cost of living crisis
jessicataplin
Data on cloud will change the way you interact with the government
Data on cloud will change the way you interact with the government
Spotlight
Defining a Kodak culture for the future
Defining a Kodak culture for the future
Spotlight
Topics in this article : ,