Queen Elizabeth becomes UK's second-longest reigning monarch

Source: Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) – Queen Elizabeth surpassed George III on Thursday to become the second-longest reigning British monarch in more than 1,000 years of history. Only Queen Victoria -- whose relatives and descendants make up a who's who of European royalty across the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries -- spent more time on the throne.

The 85-year-old Elizabeth II, who acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952, has now ruled for 59 years and 95 days, more than every other monarch bar Victoria in more than 1,000 years of British history when leap-year days are included.

The longevity of her reign pushes George III, who was king from 1760 until 1820 during the period that the United States won independence from Britain, into third place. George suffered from mental illness in the latter part of his life which was documented in the successful film "The Madness of King George."

snip...

Last month, Prince Charles, 62, broke the record for spending the longest time as heir-to-the-throne.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_britain_queen

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Stupidly, they don't mention how long Victoria ruled, so I looked it up: 63 years, 216 days

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does that make her a president?

Dunno what that makes her, but it pays well.

Victoria's life. I also enjoyed that (Victoria seemed a little nuts) but still interesting reading. I guess Elizabeth will have to be dead before any real details of her life can be chronicled.

try to get a hold of copies of her personal correspondences with her eldest child, Victoria, Princess Royal and Empress of Prussia, edited by Roger Fulford. You can find them mainly in online used book stores. You'll find whole lot of insight into her thinking and especially her "madness" after the death of her husband.

There are some books out there on ERII; I've read some biographies of her great grandmother, Queen Alexandra and her grandmother, Queen Mary. They offer some insights into her as a child.

years or so of his life, I think he was basically locked away due to insanity, while his heir the Prince of Wales ran the kingdom.

I want to go over for her Diamond Jubilee. England looks like it knows how to throw a party!!

I hope Charles never gets to be King. Karma for him and Camilla for how they treated Diana.

Camilla was Charles first love but was considered 'unsuitable' by the Queen else Charles would have probably married her ages ago. Instead Charles had to find himself a virgin royal bride to fit the bill and Diana fit. There was never any 'great romance' between Charles and Diana.

I think the Queen realizes the damage she had done with Charles and is probably the reason why William was allowed to marry not only a commoner but someone who probably was not a virgin (although I suspect William might have been the only man she was with). Will & Kate have known each other for 10 years and were friends for a couple of years before they officially started dating. If anything, Kate is probably more a Camila than a Diana. Or perhaps Kate will be the best of both - the one great love for Will (aka Camila) and someone who will be a 'people's princess' like Diana.

She got a Mercedes Benz steering wheel to wear as a halo.

...whether he is crowned is another matter entirely..

abdicate to william before her death? i feel that wills will be king, not charles.

..that is simply a matter of heredity...Charles is next in line...the only way Wills becomes King is if Charles abdicates..

She could abdicate, if she wanted to, but she doesn't get to name her successor. But she has also made it clear she will never abdicate - she regards her coronation oath as a religious one which means she can never abdicate.

that's the only way he won't be king, i don't think think she would ever actually pass him over....

i wish though!

Shame on those two. You can't use and discard another person like they did and expect to get away with it.

Let alone 59 + years. I'm envious.

English Royal protocol says that a woman can inherit the throne ONLY if a male heir is not produced

This was taken this Easter. The Queen looks every inch the proud grandmother alongside Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, during a ride in Windsor Great Park over Easter. I hope I can still ride when I'm 85.

Boudica the Lyoness

Dam she look "young" even tho she is 85... I wonder how many 85 year olds who still ride on a horse... Or work as long day as she often do.

She is a great Queen, and in her old days "warmed up" a tad I would say... Not excactly a modern Queen, but a good rep for the Royals I would say...

Hope she wil get a nice diamond jubelee.. And no one can celebrate as peopole in UK... Not when it came to trow a party to the royals..

Diclotcan

It's September 11th, 2015. The story might get overshadowed by another anniversary, though (or maybe not - it's not a big milestone like the 10th anniversary this year).

of US involvement in the 1973 coup in Chile which led to the death of roughly twice as many as the latter day event on the same date.

Dead furriners don't count.