List of monarchs in Britain by length of reign

Elizabeth II
64 years, 306 days

Victoria
63 years, 216 days

George III
59 years, 96 days

James VI of Scotland
57 years, 246 days^[1]

Edward III of England
50 years, 147 days

William I of Scotland
48 years, 360 days

Elizabeth I of England and Ireland
44 years, 127 days

Llywelyn I of Wales
44−45 years

David II of Scotland
41 years, 260 days

Henry VI of England
First reign:
38 years, 185 days
Second reign:
162 days

The following is a list, ordered by length of reign, of the monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (Northern Ireland after 1927), the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of England since AD 925, the Kingdom of Scotland since AD 1107, and the Principality of Wales from AD 1170.

Queen Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch on 9 September 2015 when she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother Victoria.^[2][3]

The longest claim by a pretender was that of James Francis Edward Stuart (the "Old Pretender"), who was the Jacobite pretender to the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland for 64 years, 3 months, and 16 days (17 September 1701 – 1 January 1766). Queen Elizabeth II surpassed the length of the Old Pretender's claimed reign in May 2016.

Overall

These are the ten longest reigning monarchs in Britain for which there is reliable recorded evidence.

No.	Name	Reign		Duration
		From	To	Days	Years, days
1	Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom	6 February 1952	Present	23,682	64 years, 306 days
2	Victoria of the United Kingdom	20 June 1837	22 January 1901	23,226	63 years, 216 days
3	George III of the United Kingdom	25 October 1760	29 January 1820	21,644	59 years, 96 days
4	James VI of Scotland	24 July 1567	27 March 1625	21,066	57 years, 246 days
5	Henry III of England and Lord of Ireland	18 October 1216	16 November 1272	20,483	56 years, 29 days
6	Edward III of England and Lord of Ireland	25 January 1327	20 June 1377	18,410	50 years, 147 days
7	William I of Scotland	9 December 1165	4 December 1214	17,892	48 years, 360 days
8=	Llywelyn of Gwynedd	1194 or 1195	11 April 1240	16,173–16,902	44–46 years
8=	Elizabeth I of England and Ireland	17 November 1558	24 March 1603	16,198	44 years, 127 days
10	David II of Scotland	7 June 1329	22 February 1371	15,235	41 years, 260 days

Post-Treaty of Union

United Kingdom

On 1 January 1801 the Kingdom of Great Britain united with the Kingdom of Ireland to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, becoming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by Act of Parliament in 1927^[4] following the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

Name	Reign		Duration
	From	To	(days)	(years, days)
Elizabeth II	6 February 1952	Present	23,682	64 years, 306 days
Victoria	20 June 1837	22 January 1901	23,226	63 years, 216 days
George III	25 October 1760	29 January 1820	21,644	59 years, 96 days
George V	6 May 1910	20 January 1936	9,390	25 years, 259 days
George VI	11 December 1936	6 February 1952	5,535	15 years, 57 days
George IV	29 January 1820	26 June 1830	3,801	10 years, 148 days
Edward VII	22 January 1901	6 May 1910	3,391	9 years, 104 days
William IV	26 June 1830	20 June 1837	2,551	6 years, 359 days
Edward VIII	20 January 1936	11 December 1936	326	326 days

Great Britain

On 1 May 1707, under the Acts of Union 1707, the Kingdom of England united with the Kingdom of Scotland as the Kingdom of Great Britain.

Name	Reign		Duration
	From	To	(days)	(years, days)
George III[5]	25 October 1760	29 January 1820	21,644	59 years, 96 days
George II	22 June 1727^N.S.	25 October 1760	12,168	33 years, 114 days
George I	1 August 1714	11 June 1727	4,697	12 years, 314 days
Anne[6]	8 March 1702	1 August 1714	4,529	12 years, 146 days

England

Name	Reign		Duration
	From	To	(days)	(years, days)
Henry III	18 or 19 October 1216	16 November 1272	20,482 or 20,483	56 years, 28 days or 29 days
Edward III	25 January 1327	21 June 1377	18,410	50 years, 147 days
Elizabeth I	17 November 1558	24 March 1603	16,198	44 years, 127 days
Henry VI[7]	31 August 1422 31 October 1470	4 March 1461 11 April 1471	14,065 162 Total: 14,227	38 years, 185 days 162 days 38 years, 347 days
Æthelred II[7]	18 March 978 3 February 1014	25 December 1013 23 April 1016	13,065 810 Total: 13,875	35 years, 282 days 2 years, 80 days 37 years, 362 days
Henry VIII	22 April 1509	28 January 1547	13,795	37 years, 281 days
Charles II[8]	30 January 1649	6 February 1685	13,156	36 years, 7 days
Henry I	3 August 1100	1 December 1135	12,903	35 years, 120 days
Henry II (co-ruler with Henry the Young King)	25 October 1154	6 July 1189	12,673	34 years, 254 days
Edward I	20 November 1272	7 July 1307	12,646	34 years, 229 days
Alfred	24 April 871	26 October 899	10,412	28 years, 185 days
Edward the Elder	27 October 899	17 July 924	9,029	24 years, 264 days
Charles I[9]	27 March 1625	30 January 1649	8,710	23 years, 309 days
Henry VII	22 August 1485	21 April 1509	8,642	23 years, 242 days
Edward the Confessor	8 June 1042	5 January 1066	8,612	23 years, 211 days
Richard II	22 June 1377	29 September 1399	8,134	22 years, 99 days
James I[1]	24 March 1603	27 March 1625	8,039	22 years, 3 days
Edward IV[7]	4 March 1461 11 April 1471	3 October 1470 9 April 1483	3,500 4,381 Total: 7,881	9 years, 213 days 11 years, 363 days 21 years, 211 days
William I	12 December 1066	9 September 1087	7,563	20 years, 258 days
Edward II	7 July 1307	20 January 1327	7,137	19 years, 197 days
Cnut	30 November 1016	12 November 1035	6,921	18 years, 347 days
Stephen[7]	22 December 1135 1 November 1141	7 April 1141 25 October 1154	1,933 4,741 Total: 6,674	5 years, 106 days 12 years, 358 days 18 years, 99 days
John	6 April 1199	19 October 1216	6,406	17 years, 196 days
Edgar I	1 October 959	8 July 975	5,759	15 years, 280 days
Æthelstan	2 August 924 (or 925)	27 October 939	5,564 or 5,199	15 years, 86 days or 14 years, 86 days
Henry IV	29 September 1399	20 March 1413	4,920	13 years, 172 days
William III[10] (co-ruler with Mary II)	13 February 1689	8 March 1702	4,770	13 years, 23 days
Henry the Young King (co-ruler with Henry II)	14 June 1170	11 June 1183	4,745	12 years, 362 days
William II	9 September 1087	2 August 1100	4,710	12 years, 327 days
Anne[6]	8 March 1702	1 August 1714	4,529	12 years, 146 days
Richard I	6 July 1189	6 April 1199	3,561	9 years, 274 days
Eadred	26 May 946	23 November 955	3,468	9 years, 181 days
Henry V	21 March 1413	31 August 1422	3,450	9 years, 163 days
Edmund I	27 October 939	26 May 946	2,403	6 years, 211 days
Edward VI	28 January 1547	6 July 1553	2,351	6 years, 159 days
Mary II[11] (co-ruler with William III)	13 February 1689	28 December 1694	2,144	5 years, 318 days
Mary I	19 July 1553	17 November 1558	1,947	5 years, 121 days
Eadwig	23 November 955	1 October 959	1,408	3 years, 312 days
James II[12]	6 February 1685	11 December 1688	1,404	3 years, 309 days
Edward the Martyr	9 July 975	18 March 978	984	2 years, 253 days
Harold I	12 November 1037	17 March 1040	856	2 years, 126 days
Harthacnut	17 March 1040	8 June 1042	813	2 years, 83 days
Richard III	26 June 1483	22 August 1485	788	2 years, 57 days
Louis (disputed)	14 June 1216	22 September 1217	465	1 year, 100 days
Harold II	5 January 1066	14 October 1066	282	282 days
Edmund II	23 April 1016	30 November 1016	221	221 days
Matilda (disputed)	7 April 1141	1 November 1141	208	208 days
Edward V	9 April 1483	26 June 1483	78	78 days
Edgar II	15 October 1066	17 December 1066	63	63 days
Sweyn Forkbeard	25 December 1013	3 February 1014	40	40 days
Jane (disputed)	10 July 1553	19 July 1553	9	9 days

Scotland

Name	Reign		Duration
	From	To	(days)	(years, days)
James VI[1]	24 July 1567	27 March 1625	21,066	57 years, 246 days
William I	9 December 1165	4 December 1214	17,892	48 years, 360 days
David II	7 June 1329	22 February 1371	15,235	41 years, 260 days
Alexander III	6 July 1249	19 March 1286	13,405	36 years, 256 days
Malcolm III	17 March 1058	13 November 1093	13,025	35 years, 241 days
Alexander II	4 December 1214	6 July 1249	12,633	34 years, 214 days
James I	4 April 1406	21 February 1437	11,281	30 years, 323 days
James V	9 September 1513	14 December 1542	10,688	29 years, 96 days
David I	23 April 1124	24 May 1153	10,623	29 years, 31 days
James III	3 August 1460	11 June 1488	10,174	27 years, 313 days
Charles II[8]	30 January 1649 29 May 1660	3 September 1651 6 February 1685	946 9,019 Total: 9,965	2 years, 216 days 24 years, 253 days 27 years, 104 days
James IV	11 June 1488	9 September 1513	9,220	25 years, 90 days
Mary I	14 December 1542	24 July 1567	8,988	24 years, 222 days
Charles I[9]	27 March 1625	30 January 1649	8,710	23 years, 309 days
James II	21 February 1437	3 August 1460	8,564	23 years, 164 days
Robert I	25 March 1306	7 June 1329	8,475	23 years, 74 days
Robert II	22 February 1371	19 April 1390	6,996	19 years, 56 days
Alexander I	8 January 1107	23 April 1124	6,315	17 years, 106 days
Macbeth	14 August 1040	15 August 1057	6,210	17 years, 1 day
Robert III	19 April 1390	4 April 1406	5,828	15 years, 350 days
William II[10]	11 May 1689	8 March 1702	4,683	12 years, 301 days
Anne[6]	8 March 1702	1 August 1714	4,529	12 years, 146 days
Malcolm IV	24 May 1153	9 December 1165	4,582	12 years, 199 days
Mary II[11]	11 May 1689	28 December 1694	2,057	5 years, 231 days
James VII[13]	6 February 1685	11 December 1688 (claimed until 16 September 1701.)	1,404 (claimed 6,065.)	3 years, 309 days claimed 16 years, 222 days
John Balliol	17 November 1292	10 July 1296	1,331	3 years, 236 days

Wales

Name	Reign		Duration
	From	To	(days)	(years, days)
Llywelyn the Great	1195	11 April 1240	>16,172	c. 45 years
Owain Gwynedd	1137	1170	>11,688	c. 33 years
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd	1253	11 December 1282	>10,572	c. 29 years
Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd	1170	1195	>8,766	c. 25 years
Owain Glyndŵr (disputed)	16 September 1400	c. 1416	>5,585	c. 16 years
Owain Goch ap Gruffydd	26 February 1246	1253	>2,500	c. 7 years
Owain Lawgoch (disputed)	May 1372	July 1378	>2,221	c. 6 years
Dafydd ap Llywelyn	12 April 1240	25 February 1246	2,145	5 years, 319 days
Dafydd ap Gruffydd	12 December 1282	3 October 1283	295	295 days

Elizabeth II

On 9 September 2015 (at the age of 89 years, 141 days), Elizabeth II became the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning female monarch in world history.^[14][15] On 23 May 2016 (at the age of 90 years, 32 days), her reign surpassed the claimed reign of James Francis Edward Stuart (the "Old Pretender").^[16] On 13 October 2016 (at the age of 90 years, 175 days), she became the world's longest-reigning current monarch (and the world's longest-serving current head of state) after the death of Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), King of Thailand.^[17][18]

Should she still be reigning on –

• 18 July 2020 (at age 94 years, 88 days), she would have been queen for 25,000 days.^[19]
• 6 February 2022 (at age 95 years, 291 days), she would celebrate her platinum jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.^[20]
• 27 May 2024 (at age 98 years, 36 days), she would surpass Louis XIV of France as the longest-reigning monarch of a major country in European history.^[21]

See also

• Current reigning monarchs by length of reign
• List of British monarchs by longevity
• List of longest-reigning monarchs
• Line of succession to the British throne
• Monarchy of the United Kingdom

References

1. James VI, King of Scots, became James I, King of England, in 1603.
2. Patricia Treble (30 December 2014). "Palace calculations: Queen Elizabeth II set to lap Victoria". Maclean's. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
3. "Official Website of the British Monarchy". Retrieved 5 September 2015. On 9 September 2015, The Queen will become the longest reigning British Monarch, surpassing Queen Victoria.
4. "Royal And Parliamentary Titles Act 1927". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
5. George III, King of Great Britain, became King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in 1801.
6. Anne, Queen of England and Queen of Scots, became Queen of Great Britain in 1707.
7. Monarch's total length of reign is the sum of the two reigns displayed.
8. Charles II King of England and King of Scots concurrently from 30 January 1649 to 6 February 1685.
9. Charles I was King of England and King of Scots concurrently.
10. William of Orange became William III, King of England, on 13 February 1689 and William II, King of Scots, on 11 May 1689.
11. Mary II became Queen of England on 13 February 1689 and Queen of Scots on 11 May 1689.
12. James was James II, King of England, and James VII, King of Scots, concurrently.
13. James was James II, King of England, and James VII, King of Scotland, concurrently.
14. Warren Gaebel. "Longest Reigning British Monarch". Warren Gaebel. Retrieved 2015-06-15.
15. "Elizabeth is about to become Britain's longest-reigning queen. Here's how she's changed monarchy". The Spectator. 2015-01-03. Retrieved 2015-03-08.
16. "Famous Stewarts". www.stewartsociety.org. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
17. "Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88". BBC News. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
18. By PA  Oct 13, 2016. "Queen takes over longest reign mantle after Thailand's King Bhumibol dies - AOL News UK". Aol.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
19. "Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest-reigning British monarch". Deutsche Welle. 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
20. Victoria Arbiter (September 9, 2015). "Queen Elizabeth II: The platinum monarch?". CNN. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
21. Louis XIV. MSN Encarta. 2008. Archived from the original on 1 November 2009. Retrieved 20 January 2008.