From remarkable reigns to extraordinary personal lives, British monarchs throughout history have left their mark in memorable ways.
Queen Elizabeth II (1952–2022) – Longest-reigning female monarch
Queen Elizabeth II served for an incredible 70 years and 214 days. She surpassed Queen Victoria’s 63 years and 7 months, becoming a historic icon. Only France’s King Louis XIV reigned longer. She is also the longest-lived British monarch.
Lady Jane Grey (1553) – Shortest reign
In contrast, the shortest reign in British history belongs to Lady Jane Grey, who ruled for just nine days when she was 16. Named heir by the dying Edward VI to preserve a Protestant succession, she was proclaimed queen on 10 July 1553. Support, however, quickly shifted to Mary Tudor, and Jane was deposed, convicted of treason and executed.
King Henry VI (1422-1461) – Youngest monarch
Lady Jane Grey may have only been 16 when she was crowned, but she wasn't the youngest-ever monarch. King Henry VI was only nine months old when he succeeded his father Henry V as king of England in 1422. A council ran the country until Henry was deemed old enough to rule by himself in 1437.
Scotland had an even younger monarch – Mary, Queen of Scots – who became queen at only six days old.
King Charles III (2022-present) – Oldest monarch
The oldest monarch to take the British throne was King Charles III, who became king at 73 years old, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. She was the oldest British monarch, still ruling until she died at the age of 96.
Before King Charles, the title had been held by King William IV (1830-1837) who was 64 when he ascended.
King Edward IV (1461-1483) – Tallest monarch
King Edward IV is widely considered the tallest monarch in British history. When his remains were examined in 1789, his skeleton measured 1.93m (6ft 4in), but it's suggested he would have been slightly taller during his lifetime. He could even have been taller than our current Prince of Wales.
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Queen Victoria (1837-1901) – Shortest monarch
Queen Victoria, who reigned for an impressive 63 years, was famously small in stature. At just 4ft 11, she was over 3in shorter than Queen Elizabeth II at the time of her death. At council meetings she had to be seated on a raised platform in order to be seen.
King Edward I (1272-1307) – Most number of children
Edward I had 15 legitimate children with Eleanor of Castile, and three with Margaret of France, though several didn’t make it to adulthood. Henry I is thought to hold the record for the British monarch with the most illegitimate children, with twenty-five or more.
King Henry VIII (1509-1547) – Most marriages
King Henry VIII is renowned for having six wives: Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (beheaded), Jane Seymour (died), Anne of Cleves (divorced), Katherine Howard (beheaded) and Katherine Parr (survived). Katherine Parr outlived him and became England’s most-married queen consort – she married four times.
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Main image: Queen Elizabeth II. Credit: Getty
