List of monarchs in Britain by length of reign - wikipedia List of monarchs in Britain by length of reign Elizabeth II The following is a list, ordered by length of reign, of the monarchs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ( 1927 -- present ), the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ( 1801 -- 1927 ), the Kingdom of Great Britain ( 1707 -- 1801 ), the Kingdom of England ( 871 -- 1707 ), the Kingdom of Scotland ( 878 -- 1707 ), the Kingdom of Ireland ( 1542 -- 1800 ), and the Principality of Wales ( 1216 -- 1542 ). Queen Elizabeth II became the longest - reigning British monarch on 9 September 2015 when she surpassed the reign of her great - great - grandmother Victoria. On 6 February 2017 she became the first British monarch to celebrate a Sapphire Jubilee, commemorating 65 years on the throne. Contents 1 Overall 1.1 Gallery 1.2 Elizabeth II 2 Unitary monarchy 2.1 United Kingdom 2.2 Great Britain 3 Kingdoms 3.1 England 3.2 Scotland 3.3 Ireland 4 Principalities 4.1 Gwynedd 4.2 Wales 5 See also 6 References Overall These are the ten longest reigning monarchs in Britain for whom there is reliable recorded evidence. No. Name Reign Duration From To Days Years, days Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom 6 February 1952 Present 24,071 7004240710000000000 ♠ 65 years, 329 days Victoria of the United Kingdom 20 June 1837 22 January 1901 23,226 63 years, 216 days George III of the United Kingdom 25 October 1760 29 January 1820 21,644 59 years, 96 days James VI of Scotland 24 July 1567 27 March 1625 21,066 7004210660000000000 ♠ 57 years, 246 days 5 Henry III of England 18 October 1216 16 November 1272 20,483 7004204830000000000 ♠ 56 years, 29 days 6 Edward III of England 25 January 1327 20 June 1377 18,410 7004184100000000000 ♠ 50 years, 147 days 7 William I of Scotland 9 December 1165 4 December 1214 17,892 7004178920000000000 ♠ 48 years, 360 days 8 Llywelyn of Gwynedd 1195 11 April 1240 16,173 -- 16,902 c. 44 -- 45 years 9 Elizabeth I of England 17 November 1558 24 March 1603 16,198 7004161980000000000 ♠ 44 years, 127 days 10 David II of Scotland 7 June 1329 22 February 1371 15,235 7004152350000000000 ♠ 41 years, 260 days 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 ). Gallery 1 - Elizabeth II 2 - Victoria 3 - George III 4 - James VI 5 - Henry III 6 - Edward III 7 - William I 8 - Llywelyn I 9 - Elizabeth I 10 - David II Elizabeth II On 9 September 2015 ( at the age of 7004326480000000000 ♠ 89 years, 141 days ), Elizabeth II became the longest - reigning British monarch and the longest - reigning female monarch in world history. On 23 May 2016 ( at the age of 7004329050000000000 ♠ 90 years, 32 days ), her reign surpassed the claimed reign of James Francis Edward Stuart ( the `` Old Pretender '' ). On 13 October 2016 ( at the age of 7004330480000000000 ♠ 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. Should she still be reigning on -- 18 July 2020 ( at age 7004344220000000000 ♠ 94 years, 88 days ), she would have been queen for 25,000 days. 6 February 2022 ( at age 7004349900000000000 ♠ 95 years, 291 days ), she would celebrate her platinum jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne. 27 May 2024 ( at age 7004358310000000000 ♠ 98 years, 36 days ), she would surpass Louis XIV of France as the longest - reigning monarch of a major European country. Unitary monarchy See also : List of British monarchs 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 following the creation of the Irish Free State in 1922. Name Reign Duration From To ( days ) ( years, days ) Elizabeth II 6 February 1952 Present 24,071 7004240710000000000 ♠ 65 years, 329 days Victoria 20 June 1837 22 January 1901 23,226 63 years, 216 days George V 6 May 1910 20 January 1936 9,390 7003939000000000000 ♠ 25 years, 259 days George III 1 January 1801 29 January 1820 6,967 7003696700000000000 ♠ 19 years, 28 days George VI 11 December 1936 6 February 1952 5,535 7003553500000000000 ♠ 15 years, 57 days George IV 29 January 1820 26 June 1830 3,801 7003380100000000000 ♠ 10 years, 148 days Edward VII 22 January 1901 6 May 1910 3,391 7003339100000000000 ♠ 9 years, 104 days William IV 26 June 1830 20 June 1837 2,551 7003255100000000000 ♠ 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 ( also United Kingdom ) 25 October 1760 1 January 1801 14,677 7004146770000000000 ♠ 40 years, 68 days George II 22 June 1727 25 October 1760 12,168 7004121680000000000 ♠ 33 years, 114 days George I 1 August 1714 11 June 1727 4,697 7003469700000000000 ♠ 12 years, 314 days Anne 1 May 1707 1 August 1714 2,649 7003264900000000000 ♠ 7 years, 92 days Kingdoms England See also : List of English monarchs Includes English monarchs from the installation of Alfred the Great as King of Wessex in 871 to Anne ( House of Stuart ) and the Acts of Union on 1 May 1707, when the crown became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Name Reign Duration From To ( days ) ( years, days ) Henry III 18 or 19 October 1216 16 November 1272 20,482 or 20,483 7004204820000000000 ♠ 56 years, 28 days or 29 days Edward III 25 January 1327 21 June 1377 18,410 7004184100000000000 ♠ 50 years, 147 days Elizabeth I 17 November 1558 24 March 1603 16,198 7004161980000000000 ♠ 44 years, 127 days Henry VI 31 August 1422 31 October 1470 4 March 1461 11 April 1471 14,065 162 Total : 14,227 7004140650000000000 ♠ 38 years, 185 days 162 days 38 years, 347 days Æthelred II 18 March 978 3 February 1014 25 December 1013 23 April 1016 13,065 810 Total : 13,875 7004130650000000000 ♠ 35 years, 282 days 7002810000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 80 days 37 years, 362 days Henry VIII 22 April 1509 28 January 1547 13,795 7004137950000000000 ♠ 37 years, 281 days Charles II 30 January 1649 6 February 1685 13,156 7004131560000000000 ♠ 36 years, 7 days Henry I 3 August 1100 1 December 1135 12,903 7004129030000000000 ♠ 35 years, 120 days Henry II ( co-ruler with Henry the Young King ) 25 October 1154 6 July 1189 12,673 7004126730000000000 ♠ 34 years, 254 days Edward I 20 November 1272 7 July 1307 12,646 7004126460000000000 ♠ 34 years, 229 days Alfred the Great 24 April 871 26 October 899 10,412 7004104120000000000 ♠ 28 years, 185 days Edward the Elder 27 October 899 17 July 924 9,029 7003902900000000000 ♠ 24 years, 264 days Charles I 27 March 1625 30 January 1649 8,710 7003871000000000000 ♠ 23 years, 309 days Henry VII 22 August 1485 21 April 1509 8,642 7003864200000000000 ♠ 23 years, 242 days Edward the Confessor 8 June 1042 5 January 1066 8,612 7003861200000000000 ♠ 23 years, 211 days Richard II 22 June 1377 29 September 1399 8,134 7003813400000000000 ♠ 22 years, 99 days James I 24 March 1603 27 March 1625 8,039 7003803900000000000 ♠ 22 years, 3 days Edward IV 4 March 1461 11 April 1471 3 October 1470 9 April 1483 3,500 4,381 Total : 7,881 7003350000000000000 ♠ 9 years, 213 days 7003438100000000000 ♠ 11 years, 363 days 21 years, 211 days William I 12 December 1066 9 September 1087 7,563 7003756300000000000 ♠ 20 years, 258 days Edward II 7 July 1307 20 January 1327 7,137 7003713700000000000 ♠ 19 years, 197 days Cnut 30 November 1016 12 November 1035 6,921 7003692100000000000 ♠ 18 years, 347 days Stephen 22 December 1135 1 November 1141 7 April 1141 25 October 1154 1,933 4,741 Total : 6,674 7003193300000000000 ♠ 5 years, 106 days 7003474100000000000 ♠ 12 years, 358 days 18 years, 99 days 6 April 1199 19 October 1216 6,406 7003640600000000000 ♠ 17 years, 196 days Edgar I 1 October 959 8 July 975 5,759 7003575900000000000 ♠ 15 years, 280 days Æthelstan 2 August 924 ( or 925 ) 27 October 939 5,564 or 5,199 7003556400000000000 ♠ 15 years, 86 days or 7003519900000000000 ♠ 14 years, 86 days Henry IV 29 September 1399 20 March 1413 4,920 7003492000000000000 ♠ 13 years, 172 days William III ( co-ruler with Mary II ) 13 February 1689 8 March 1702 4,770 7003477000000000000 ♠ 13 years, 23 days Henry the Young King ( co-ruler with Henry II ) 14 June 1170 11 June 1183 4,745 7003474500000000000 ♠ 12 years, 362 days William II 9 September 1087 2 August 1100 4,710 7003471000000000000 ♠ 12 years, 327 days Richard I 6 July 1189 6 April 1199 3,561 7003356100000000000 ♠ 9 years, 274 days Eadred 26 May 946 23 November 955 3,468 7003346800000000000 ♠ 9 years, 181 days Henry V 21 March 1413 31 August 1422 3,450 7003345000000000000 ♠ 9 years, 163 days Edmund I 27 October 939 26 May 946 2,403 7003240300000000000 ♠ 6 years, 211 days Edward VI 28 January 1547 6 July 1553 2,351 7003235100000000000 ♠ 6 years, 159 days Mary II ( co-ruler with William III ) 13 February 1689 28 December 1694 2,144 7003214400000000000 ♠ 5 years, 318 days Mary I 19 July 1553 17 November 1558 1,947 7003194700000000000 ♠ 5 years, 121 days Anne ( also Kingdom of Great Britain ) 8 March 1702 30 April 1707 1,879 7003187900000000000 ♠ 5 years, 53 days Eadwig 23 November 955 1 October 959 1,408 7003140800000000000 ♠ 3 years, 312 days James II 6 February 1685 11 December 1688 1,404 7003140400000000000 ♠ 3 years, 309 days Edward the Martyr 9 July 975 18 March 978 984 7002984000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 253 days Harold I 12 November 1037 17 March 1040 856 7002856000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 126 days Harthacnut 17 March 1040 8 June 1042 813 7002813000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 83 days Richard III 26 June 1483 22 August 1485 788 7002788000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 57 days Louis ( disputed ) 14 June 1216 22 September 1217 465 7002465000000000000 ♠ 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 See also : List of Scottish monarchs Includes Scottish monarchs from the installation of Kenneth I ( House of Alpin ) in 848 to Anne ( House of Stuart ) and the Acts of Union on 1 May 1707, when the crown became part of the Kingdom of Great Britain. Name Reign Duration From To ( days ) ( years, days ) James VI 24 July 1567 27 March 1625 21,066 7004210660000000000 ♠ 57 years, 246 days William I 9 December 1165 4 December 1214 17,892 7004178920000000000 ♠ 48 years, 360 days Constantine II 900 943 c. 15,500 c. 43 years David II 7 June 1329 22 February 1371 15,235 7004152350000000000 ♠ 41 years, 260 days Alexander III 6 July 1249 19 March 1286 13,405 7004134050000000000 ♠ 36 years, 256 days Malcolm III 17 March 1058 13 November 1093 13,025 7004130250000000000 ♠ 35 years, 241 days Alexander II 4 December 1214 6 July 1249 12,633 7004126330000000000 ♠ 34 years, 214 days James I 4 April 1406 21 February 1437 11,281 7004112810000000000 ♠ 30 years, 323 days Malcolm II 25 March 1005 25 November 1034 10,837 7004108370000000000 ♠ 29 years, 245 days James V 9 September 1513 14 December 1542 10,688 7004106880000000000 ♠ 29 years, 96 days David I 23 April 1124 24 May 1153 10,623 7004106230000000000 ♠ 29 years, 31 days James III 3 August 1460 11 June 1488 10,174 7004101740000000000 ♠ 27 years, 313 days Charles II 30 January 1649 29 May 1660 3 September 1651 6 February 1685 946 9,019 Total : 9,965 7002946000000000000 ♠ 2 years, 216 days 7003901900000000000 ♠ 24 years, 253 days 27 years, 104 days James IV 11 June 1488 9 September 1513 9,220 7003922000000000000 ♠ 25 years, 90 days Mary I 14 December 1542 24 July 1567 8,988 7003898800000000000 ♠ 24 years, 222 days Charles I 27 March 1625 30 January 1649 8,710 7003871000000000000 ♠ 23 years, 309 days Kenneth II 971 995 c. 8,700 c. 23 - 24 years James II 21 February 1437 3 August 1460 8,564 7003856400000000000 ♠ 23 years, 164 days Robert I 25 March 1306 7 June 1329 8,475 7003847500000000000 ♠ 23 years, 74 days Robert II 22 February 1371 19 April 1390 6,996 7003699600000000000 ♠ 19 years, 56 days Alexander I 8 January 1107 23 April 1124 6,315 7003631500000000000 ♠ 17 years, 106 days Macbeth 14 August 1040 15 August 1057 6,210 7003621000000000000 ♠ 17 years, 1 day Robert III 19 April 1390 4 April 1406 5,828 7003582800000000000 ♠ 15 years, 350 days Constantine I 862 877 c. 5,400 c. 15 years Kenneth MacAlpin 843 13 February 858 c. 5,100 c. 14 years William II 11 May 1689 8 March 1702 4,683 7003468300000000000 ♠ 12 years, 301 days Malcolm IV 24 May 1153 9 December 1165 4,582 7003458200000000000 ♠ 12 years, 199 days Giric ( co-ruler with Eochaid ? ) 878 889 c. 4.000 c. 11 years Donald II 889 900 c. 4,000 c. 11 years Malcolm I 943 954 c. 3,600 c. 10 - 11 years Edgar 1097 8 January 1107 c. 3,600 c. 10 years Kenneth III 997 25 March 1005 c. 2,900 c. 8 years Indulf 954 962 c. 2,700 c. 8 years Duncan I 25 November 1034 14 August 1040 2,089 7003208900000000000 ♠ 5 years, 263 days Mary II 11 April 1689 28 December 1694 2,087 7003208700000000000 ♠ 5 years, 261 days Amlaíb 971 977 c. 2,000 c. 5 - 6 years Anne ( also Kingdom of Great Britain ) 8 March 1702 30 April 1707 1,879 7003187900000000000 ♠ 5 years, 53 days Dub 962 c. 966 - 967 c. 1,800 c. 5 years Cuilén c. 966 - 967 971 c. 1,800 c. 5 years Domnall mac Ailpín 858 13 April 862 c. 1.300 c. 4 years James VII 6 February 1685 11 December 1688 ( claimed until 16 September 1701. ) 1,404 ( claimed 6,065. ) 7003140400000000000 ♠ 3 years, 309 days claimed 7003606500000000000 ♠ 16 years, 222 days Margaret 25 November 1286 26 September 1290 1,401 7003140100000000000 ♠ 3 years, 305 days John Balliol 17 November 1292 10 July 1296 1,331 7003133100000000000 ♠ 3 years, 236 days Donald III 13 November 1093 1097 c. 1,000 c. 3 - 4 years Constantine III 1095 1097 c. 700 c. 2 years Áed mac Cináeda 877 878 c. 365 c. 1 year Lulach 15 August 1057 17 March 1058 212 7002212000000000000 ♠ 212 days Duncan II May 1094 12 November 1094 c. 195 `` less than 7 months '' Ireland See also : Monarchy of Ireland The High King of Ireland ( 846 -- 1198 ) was primarily a titular title ( with the exception of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair who was regarded as the first `` King of Ireland '' ). The later Kingdom of Ireland ( 1542 -- 1800 ) came into being under the Crown of Ireland Act 1542, the long title of which was `` An Act that the King of England, his Heirs and Successors, be Kings of Ireland ''. In 1801 the Irish crown became part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( January 2017 ) Name Reign Duration From To ( days ) ( years, days ) Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair 1166 1193 c. 26 - 27 years Edward Bruce ( disputed ) June 1315 14 October 1318 c. 3 years, 100 days Brian Ua Néill ( disputed ) 1258 1260 c. 1 - 2 years Principalities Gwynedd See also : List of rulers of Gwynedd The Principality ( or Kingdom ) of Gwynedd ( 5th century -- 1216 ) was based in northwest Wales, its rulers were repeatedly acclaimed as `` King of the Britons '' before losing their power in civil wars or Saxon and Norman invasions. In 1216 it was superseded by the title Principality of Wales, although the new title was not first used until the 1240s. This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( January 2017 ) Name Reign Duration From To ( days ) ( years, days ) Gruffudd ap Cynan 1081 1137 c. 55 - 56 years Llywelyn the Great 1195 11 April 1240 > 16,172 c. 44 - 45 years Owain Gwynedd 1137 1170 > 11,688 c. 33 years Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd 1170 1195 > 8,766 c. 25 years Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd 1170 1170 < 1 year Wales See also : List of Princes of Wales The Principality of Wales ( 1216 -- 1542 ) was a client state of England for much of its history, except for brief periods when it was de facto independent under a Welsh Prince of Wales ( see House of Aberffraw ). From 1301 it was first used as a title of the English ( and later British ) heir apparent. The Laws in Wales Acts 1535 -- 1542 formally incorporated all of Wales within the Kingdom of England. This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( June 2011 ) Name Reign Duration From To ( days ) ( years, days ) Llywelyn ap Gruffudd 1253 11 December 1282 > 10,572 c. 29 years Owain Glyndŵr ( disputed ) 16 September 1400 c. 1416 > 5,585 c. 16 years Owain Goch ap Gruffydd 25 February 1246 1255 > 3,000 c. 9 years Owain Lawgoch ( disputed ) May 1372 July 1378 > 2,221 c. 6 years Dafydd ap Llywelyn 12 April 1240 25 February 1246 2,145 7003214500000000000 ♠ 5 years, 319 days Dafydd ap Gruffydd 11 December 1282 3 October 1283 296 296 days Charles, Prince of Wales, is the longest - serving Prince of Wales, with a tenure of 7004217090000000000 ♠ 59 years, 159 days since his proclamation as such in 1958. See also Current reigning monarchs by length of reign List of British monarchs by longevity List of British monarchy records List of longest - reigning monarchs Line of succession to the British throne Monarchy of the United Kingdom References Jump up ^ Patricia Treble ( 30 December 2014 ). `` Palace calculations : Queen Elizabeth II set to lap Victoria ''. Maclean 's. Retrieved 4 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` 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. Jump up ^ Warren Gaebel. `` Longest Reigning British Monarch ''. Warren Gaebel. Retrieved 2015 - 06 - 15. Jump up ^ `` 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. Jump up ^ `` Famous Stewarts ''. www.stewartsociety.org. Retrieved May 20, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Thailand 's King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies at 88 ''. BBC News. 2016 - 10 - 13. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. Jump up ^ 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. CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list ( link ) Jump up ^ `` Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest - reigning British monarch ''. Deutsche Welle. 2015 - 09 - 09. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 04. Jump up ^ Victoria Arbiter ( September 9, 2015 ). `` Queen Elizabeth II : The platinum monarch ? ''. CNN. Retrieved May 20, 2016. Jump up ^ Elledge, Jonn ( 9 September 2015 ). `` Queen Elizabeth II is about to become Britain 's longest reigning monarch so here are some charts ''. New Statesman. Jump up ^ `` Royal And Parliamentary Titles Act 1927 ''. Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 13. ^ Jump up to : George III, King of Great Britain, became King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801. ^ Jump up to : Anne, Queen of England and Queen of Scots, became Queen of Great Britain on 1 May 1707. ^ Jump up to : Monarch 's total length of reign is the sum of the two reigns displayed. ^ Jump up to : Charles II King of England and King of Scots concurrently from 30 January 1649 to 6 February 1685. ^ Jump up to : Charles I was King of England and King of Scots concurrently. ^ Jump up to : James VI, King of Scots, became James I, King of England, in 1603. ^ Jump up to : William of Orange became William III, King of England, on 13 February 1689 and William II, King of Scots, on 11 May 1689. ^ Jump up to : Mary II became Queen of England on 13 February 1689 and Queen of Scots on 11 May 1689. Jump up ^ James was James II, King of England, and James VII, King of Scots, concurrently. Jump up ^ James was James II, King of England, and James VII, King of Scotland, concurrently. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_monarchs_in_Britain_by_length_of_reign&oldid=818138477 '' Categories : Lists of British monarchs Lists of monarchs by length of reign Queens regnant United Kingdom - related lists of superlatives Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Multiple names : authors list Use British English from September 2015 Use dmy dates from September 2015 Articles to be expanded from January 2017 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Articles to be expanded from June 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Čeština Français Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Bahasa Melayu Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 1 January 2018, at 20 : 49. About Wikipedia

Question: who has held the english throne the longest
Answer: Queen Elizabeth II