Queen Elizabeth has officially become the second-longest serving monarch of all time.

She has been on the throne for 70 years and 127 days, one more than the Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej, who died in 2016.

Only Louis XIV, who ascended to the French throne in 1643 and reigned for 72 years and 110 days, served as monarch for longer.

The Queen’s long reign has been punctuated by the milestones she has passed throughout it.

In 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria to become Britain’s longest serving monarch ever and last week became the first to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.

She is already the world’s longest serving head of state and the longest reigning female monarch in history.

At 96 years and 53 days old, she is the 14th oldest head of state of all time and the oldest currently serving.

The Queen would surpass the reign of Louis XIV if she is still on the throne on May 27, 2024, more than a month after her 98th birthday.

Louis, known as the ‘Sun King’, oversaw France’s rise to its status as Europe’s central power until his death in 1715.

While other verifiable reigns have been longer, they have been of monarchs ruling over territories which were not fully sovereign. 

On the occasion of her Platinum Jubilee, she said: ‘I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last seventy years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm.’

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