Celebrating seven decades on the throne ruling over the UK, and as Head of State of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth II has cemented her position as the longest-reigning living ruler.
Ascension Day on February 6, 2022, marked the 95-year-old monarch’s 70th year on the throne, following the death of her father, King George VI, of a coronary thrombosis aged 56. Elizabeth flew back to Britain from a royal tour of Kenya to be crowned Queen at the age of 25.
Queen Elizabeth II celebrated the milestone of becoming the longest-ruling UK monarch back in September 2015, when she surpassed the reign of Queen Victoria, who came to the throne in 1837 at the age of 18 and ruled for 63 years and 216 days, ending on January 22, 1901, when she died aged 81.
We take a look at the five longest-reigning living monarchs
1. Queen Elizabeth II, UK and Commonwealth
Reign: Since 6 February, 1952
Officially the world’s longest-reigning living monarch, the Queen’s 70th year on the throne is the first platinum jubilee to be marked by a British ruler.
Throughout her reign, she has been served by 15 prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson, and she remains the only person in Britain permitted to drive without a driver’s licence.
Firmly entrenched in the annals of popular culture, not least thanks to her colourful approach to fashion, she once said of her style: “If I wore beige, nobody would know who I am.”
2. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III, Brunei
Reign: Since October 5, 1967
One of the richest people in the world, with an estimated wealth of $20 billion according to Forbes, the Sultan became Yang di-Pertuan (Head of State) after his father, Omar Ali Saifuddien III, abdicated.
His coronation was held on August 1, 1968, and as well as being Sultan, he holds the portfolios of Minister of Defence, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Finance.
Saifuddien, 75, was educated at the Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK in 1967. Like his father, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, and oversaw Brunei’s independence from Britain in 1984, after 96 years as a protectorate.
He celebrated his golden jubilee, to mark the 50th year of his reign, in 2017.
3. Queen Margrethe II, Denmark
Reign: Since January 14, 1972
The Queen of Denmark became heir presumptive to her father the king in 1953, after a constitutional amendment that allowed women to ascend to the Danish throne.
Following King Frederick IX of Denmark’s death on January 14, 1972, she became, at the age of 32.
She studied prehistoric archaeology at Girton College, Cambridge, and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.
Celebrating her golden jubilee on January 14, 2022, Queen Margrethe II is an accomplished linguist, speaking Danish, French, English, Swedish and German, and a keen artist.
Painting under the pseudonym Ingahild Grathmer, her illustrations were used for Danish editions of The Lord of the Rings, which she created in the early 1970s, and which were praised by the book's author JRR Tolkien.
4. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Sharjah, UAE
Reign: Since January 25, 1972
Sheikh Dr Sultan is the sovereign ruler of Sharjah and a member of the Federal Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates.
Succeeding his brother, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, following his death on January 25, 1972, Sheikh Dr Sultan was previously the Minister of Education for the Emirates.
He was educated in the Emirates before earning a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering from Cairo University, and two PhDs, one in History from Exeter University and another in the Political Geography of the Gulf at Durham University. He also holds many Honorary Doctorates.
A prolific and acclaimed writer, he has published many books both fiction and non-fiction.
5. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Reign: Since September 15, 1973
King Carl XVI Gustaf acceded to the throne following the death of his grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf, on September 15, 1973.
King Gustaf’s father died in a plane crash when he was just nine months old, which pushed him up the line of succession, and he became heir apparent at the age of 4.
The father of Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine, Gustaf became the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history, surpassing King Magnus IV's reign (1319-1364) of 44 years and 222 days on April 26, 2018.
A notable Porsche enthusiast, he is honorary chairman of the World Scout Foundation and the presenter of the Nobel Prizes each year.
The five longest-reigning rulers in history
1. Louis XIV of France
The Sun King is the longest-reigning ruler of a sovereign country in recorded history, sitting on the France’s throne for 72 years and 110 days between May 14, 1643 and September 1, 1715.
2. Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand
King Bhumibol the Great, also titled Rama IX, ruled Thailand from June 9, 1946 to October 13, 2016, a total of 70 years and 126 days.
3. Johann II of Liechtenstein
Johann II the Good took the throne just after his 18th birthday, ruling for 70 years and 91 days between October 5, 1840, and February 11, 1929.
4. Queen Elizabeth II, Great Britain and the Commonwealth
Having acceded the throne on February 6, 1952, the British monarch is the only living ruler on this historical list.
5. Kʼinich Janaab Pakal I of Palenque
Overseeing a period of construction and architecture that remains to this day, Pakal ruled the Mayan city in southern Mexico for 68 years and 33 days between July 29, 615 and August 31, 683.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The specs: 2017 Maserati Quattroporte
Price, base / as tested Dh389,000 / Dh559,000
Engine 3.0L twin-turbo V8
Transmission Eight-speed automatic
Power 530hp @ 6,800rpm
Torque 650Nm @ 2,000 rpm
Fuel economy, combined 10.7L / 100km
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
CRICKET%20WORLD%20CUP%20QUALIFIER%2C%20ZIMBABWE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%20%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMonday%2C%20June%2019%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ESri%20Lanka%20v%20UAE%2C%20Queen%E2%80%99s%20Sports%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EWednesday%2C%20June%2021%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EOman%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFriday%2C%20June%2023%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EScotland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETuesday%2C%20June%2027%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIreland%20v%20UAE%2C%20Bulawayo%20Athletic%20Club%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
BRIEF SCORES:
Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
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History's medical milestones
1799 - First small pox vaccine administered
1846 - First public demonstration of anaesthesia in surgery
1861 - Louis Pasteur published his germ theory which proved that bacteria caused diseases
1895 - Discovery of x-rays
1923 - Heart valve surgery performed successfully for first time
1928 - Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin
1953 - Structure of DNA discovered
1952 - First organ transplant - a kidney - takes place
1954 - Clinical trials of birth control pill
1979 - MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, scanned used to diagnose illness and injury.
1998 - The first adult live-donor liver transplant is carried out
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EInform%20your%20doctor%20about%20your%20plans.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAsk%20about%20your%20treatment%20so%20you%20know%20how%20it%20works.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPay%20attention%20to%20your%20health%20if%20you%20travel%20to%20a%20hot%20destination.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EPlan%20your%20trip%20well.%C2%A0%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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1.
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United States
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2.
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China
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3.
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The Two Popes
Director: Fernando Meirelles
Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce
Four out of five stars
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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THE BIO
Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren
Favourite travel destination: Switzerland
Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers
Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
More from UAE Human Development Report:
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
McIlroy's recent struggles
Last six stroke-play events (First round score in brackets)
Arnold Palmer Invitational Tied for 4th (74)
The US Masters Tied for 7th (72)
The Players Championship Tied for 35th (73)
US Open Missed the cut (78)
Travellers Championship Tied for 17th (67)
Irish Open Missed the cut (72)
The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
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Company%20profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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