A NATION IN MOURNING

Queen Elizabeth II was the world’s second longest reigning monarch

AS a somber nation prepares to say its final goodbyes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II - her grieving son becomes the oldest monarch ever to be crowned King. The Queen’s death at her Balmoral home has left a stunned nation in mourning for a much-loved and long-reigning monarch.

However, her son Charles now has to put duty before his own grief to take over as King Charles III.

He has been heir apparent to the British throne for 70 years and 214 days, since the age of three when his mother ascended the throne.

That makes him the longestserving heir apparent, beating the previous record holder, his greatgreat-grandfather King Edward VII, who had been heir-apparent for 59 years two months and 14 days.

And at the age of 73 he is nine years older than King William IV, who had held the record of being the oldest British monarch at coronation. The “Sailor King” as he was known, was aged 64 when he was crowned in 1830 and he ruled for seven years until 1837.

But while his reign was short, King William IV was a popular monarch. Britain abolished slavery in the colonies and extended the right to vote to the middle classes during his reign, a deeply progressive move for the time.

However, King William IV succeeded his brother George IV, who was an unpopular monarch whose death was met with relief in many quarters.

Queen Elizabeth II, however, was an enduringly popular monarch, beloved across Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

She was not only Britain’s longest reigning monarch - she also held the world’s second longest verifiable reign.

Her Majesty ascended to the crown on the death of her father, King George VI, on February 6, 1952, and served as Queen for 70 years and 214 days, outlasting by far Britain’s next longest-serving monarch, Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years and 216 days.

In fact of all the monarchs to sit on thrones around the world, only Louis XIV - the Sun King - had a longer reign. He was King of France for 72 years and 110 days between 1643 and his death in 1715.

But when Louis XIV ascended to the throne at the age of four, his mother Queen Ann served as Regent, the effective ruler of France. It was not until he turned 16 that he was crowned sole ruler.

That means Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning verifiable monarch whose reign does not include a period where there was a regent. She was also the nation’s oldest ever monarch, at 96 years and 140 days when she died - 15 years older than Queen Victoria.

During her time on the throne, the Queen oversaw great change across Britain and the Commonwealth. She appointed 15 different Prime

Ministers and had regular dealings with 16. Only Queen Victoria (19) and George III (16) appointed more PMS.

When she first ascended to the throne Sir Winston Churchill was at Number 10. But within three years she appointed her first prime minister, Anthony Eden.

Her last official act as Queen was to appoint her 15th PM, Liz Truss.

Addressing the nation on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Ms Truss said: “It’s an extraordinary achievement to have presided with such dignity and grace for 70 years.

“Her life of service stretched beyond most of our living memories. In return, she was loved and admired by the people in the United Kingdom and all around the world.

“She has been a personal inspiration to me and to many Britons – her devotion to duty is an example to us all.”