LONG TO REIGN OVER US
It’s well known that HM Queen Elizabeth II is our country’s longest-reigning monarch, having passed Queen Victoria in 2015. But did you know that last year she broke another record – one which had stood for over 1,300 years?
On 11 March 2020, in her role as Queen of Canada, she became the longest-reigning monarch in the Americas. This record was held by Pacal the Great, who ruled the
Maya city state of Palenque in southern Mexico in the 7th century. Pacal inherited the throne in the year 615, aged just twelve, and ruled until his death in 683.
The longest-reigning monarch in the world was Louis XIV, who ruled France for 72 years from
1643 to 1715. HM Queen Elizabeth’s term of 69 years currently places her fourth on the list, behind Louis, Rama IX of Thailand and Johann II of Liechtenstein.
ALAN GARNSWORTHY
Our Royal History reaches its conclusion with a HM Queen Elizabeth II Special, starting p20.