List of monarchs in Britain by length of reign

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. She has reigned for 68 years as of February 2020.
==Overall==
These are the ten longest reigning monarchs in the British Isles for whom there is reliable recorded evidence. 
# 	Monarch 	Reign 	Reign 	Duration 	Duration
# 	Monarch 	From 	To 	Days 	Years, days
1 	Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom	6 February 1952 	Present 	 	
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 	28 October 1216 	16 November 1272	20,473 	56 years, 19 days
6 	Edward III of England 	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 	75px Llywelyn of Gwynedd 	1195 	11 April 1240 	16,173–16,902	44–45 years
9 	Elizabeth I of England 	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
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).
=== Elizabeth II: the longest-reigning monarch ===
On 9 September 2015 (at the age of ), 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 ), her reign surpassed the claimed reign of James Francis Edward Stuart (the "Old Pretender"). On 13 October 2016 (at the age of ), 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.
If she is still reigning on:
* 6 February 2022 (at age ), she will celebrate her platinum jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne.
* 27 May 2024 (at age ), she will be the longest-reigning monarch of any sovereign state, surpassing Louis XIV of France, who reigned for 72 years, 110 days.
* 6 February 2027 (at age ), she will celebrate her second diamond jubilee, marking 75 years on the throne.
==Unitary monarchy==
===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 	Reign 	Duration	Duration
Name 	From 	To 	(days) 	(years, days)
Elizabeth II 	6 February 1952 	Present 	 	Updated daily according to UTC.
Victoria 	20 June 1837 	22 January 1901 	23,226 	63 years, 216 days
George V 	6 May 1910 	20 January 1936 	9,390 	25 years, 259 days
George IIIGeorge III, King of Great Britain, became King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland on 1 January 1801.	1 January 1801 	29 January 1820 	6,967 	19 years, 28 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 	Reign 	Duration	Duration
Name 	From 	To 	(days) 	(years, days)
George III 	25 October 1760	1 January 1801 	14,677 	40 years, 68 days
George II 	22 June 1727 	25 October 1760	12,168 	33 years, 114 days
George I 	1 August 1714 	11 June 1727 	4,697 	12 years, 314 days
AnneAnne, Queen of England and Queen of Scots, became Queen of Great Britain on 1 May 1707.	1 May 1707 	1 August 1714 	2,649 	7 years, 92 days
==Kingdoms==
===England===
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 	Reign 	Duration 	Duration
Name 	From 	To 	(days) 	(years, days)
Henry III 	28 October 1216 	16 November 1272 	20,473 	56 years, 19 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 	1 September 142231 October 1470 	4 March 146111 April 1471  	14,064162Total: 14,226	38 years, 184 days162 days38 years, 347 days
Æthelred II 	18 March 9783 February 1014  	25 December 101323 April 1016 	13,065810Total: 13,875	35 years, 282 days2 years, 80 days37 years, 362 days
Henry VIII 	22 April 1509 	28 January 1547 	13,795 	37 years, 281 days
Charles IICharles II King of England and King of Scots concurrently from 30 January 1649 to 6 February 1685. 	30 January 1649 	6 February 1685 	13,156 	36 years, 7 days
Henry I 	5 August 1100 	1 December 1135 	12,901 	35 years, 118 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 the Great 	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 ICharles I was King of England and King of Scots concurrently. 	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 IJames VI, King of Scots, became James I, King of England, in 1603. 	24 March 1603 	27 March 1625 	8,039 	22 years, 3 days
Edward IV 	4 March 146111 April 1471  	3 October 14709 April 1483  	3,5004,381Total: 7,881	9 years, 213 days11 years, 363 days21 years, 211 days
William I 	12 December 1066 	9 September 1087 	7,563 	20 years, 258 days
Edward II 	8 July 1307 	20 January 1327 	7,136 	19 years, 196 days
Cnut 	30 November 1016 	12 November 1035 	6,921 	18 years, 347 days
Stephen 	22 December 11351 November 1141 	7 April 114125 October 1154  	1,9334,741Total: 6,674	5 years, 106 days12 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 daysor 14 years, 86 days
Henry IV 	30 September 1399 	20 March 1413 	4,919 	13 years, 171 days
William IIIWilliam of Orange became William III, King of England, on 13 February 1689 and William II, King of Scots, on 11 May 1689.(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 	26 September 1087 	2 August 1100 	4,693 	12 years, 310 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 IIMary II became Queen of England on 13 February 1689 and Queen of Scots on 11 May 1689.(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
Anne (also Kingdom of Great Britain) 	8 March 1702 	30 April 1707 	1,879 	5 years, 53 days
Harold I 	12 November 1035 	17 March 1040 	1586 	4 years, 126 days
Eadwig 	23 November 955 	1 October 959 	1,408 	3 years, 312 days
James IIJames was James II, King of England, and James VII, King of Scots, concurrently. 	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
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
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===
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 	Reign 	Duration 	Duration
Name 	From 	To 	(days) 	(years, days)
James VI 	24 July 1567 	27 March 1625 	 	
William I 	9 December 1165 	4 December 1214 	 	
Constantine II 	900 	943 	c. 15,500 	c. 43 years
David II 	7 June 1329 	22 February 1371 	 	
Alexander III 	6 July 1249 	19 March 1286 	 	
Malcolm III 	17 March 1058 	13 November 1093 	 	
Alexander II 	4 December 1214 	6 July 1249 	 	
James I 	4 April 1406 	21 February 1437 	 	
Malcolm II 	25 March 1005 	25 November 1034 	 	
James V 	9 September 1513 	14 December 1542 	 	
David I 	23 April 1124 	24 May 1153 	 	
James III 	3 August 1460 	11 June 1488 	 	
Charles II 	30 January 164929 May 1660 	3 September 16516 February 1685  	Total: 9,965	27 years, 104 days
James IV 	11 June 1488 	9 September 1513 	 	
Mary I 	14 December 1542 	24 July 1567 	 	
Charles I 	27 March 1625 	30 January 1649 	 	
Kenneth II 	971 	995 	c. 8,700 	c. 23-24 years
James II 	21 February 1437 	3 August 1460 	 	
Edward Balliol (disputed) 	24 September 1332 	20 January 1356 	 	
Robert I 	25 March 1306 	7 June 1329 	 	
Robert II 	22 February 1371 	19 April 1390 	 	
Alexander I 	8 January 1107 	23 April 1124 	 	
Macbeth 	14 August 1040 	15 August 1057 	 	
Robert III 	19 April 1390 	4 April 1406 	 	
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 	 	
Malcolm IV 	24 May 1153 	9 December 1165 	 	
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 	 	
Mary II 	11 April 1689 	28 December 1694 	 	
Amlaíb 	971 	977 	c. 2,000 	c. 5-6 years
Anne (also Kingdom of Great Britain) 	8 March 1702 	30 April 1707 	 	
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 VIIJames was James II, King of England, and James VII, King of Scotland, concurrently.	6 February 1685 	11 December 1688(claimed until 16 September 1701.)	(claimed .) 	claimed
Margaret 	25 November 1286 	26 September 1290 	 	
John Balliol 	17 November 1292 	10 July 1296 	 	
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 	 	
Duncan II 	May 1094 	12 November 1094 	c. 	"less than 7 months"
===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.
Name 	Reign 	Reign 	Duration	Duration
Name 	From 	To 	(days) 	(years, days)
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair 	1166 	1193 	 	26-27 years
Edward Bruce (disputed) 	June 1315	14 October 1318	 	3 years, 100 days
Brian Ua Néill (disputed)	1258 	1260 	 	1-2 years
==Principalities==
===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.
Name 	Reign	Reign 	Duration	Duration
Name 	From 	To 	(days) 	(years, days)
Gruffudd ap Cynan 	1081 	1137 	 	55-56 years
Llywelyn the Great 	1195 	11 April 1240	>16,172 	44-45 years
Owain Gwynedd 	1137 	1170 	>11,688 	33 years
Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd	1170 	1195 	>8,766 	25 years
Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd 	1170 	1170 	 	<1 year
===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.
Name 	Reign 	Reign 	Duration	Duration
Name 	From 	To 	(days) 	(years, days)
Llywelyn ap Gruffudd 	1253 	11 December 1282	>10,572 	29 years
Owain Glyndŵr (disputed)	16 September 1400	1416 	>5,585 	16 years
Owain Goch ap Gruffydd 	25 February 1246 	1255 	>3,000 	9 years
Owain Lawgoch (disputed)	May 1372 	July 1378 	>2,221 	6 years
Dafydd ap Llywelyn 	12 April 1240 	25 February 1246	 	
Dafydd ap Gruffydd 	11 December 1282 	3 October 1283 	 	days
Charles, Prince of Wales, is the longest-serving Prince of Wales, with a tenure of since his proclamation as such in 1958.
==See also==
* List of 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==
Longest-reigning
British
 
Longest reigning British monarchs