Two days ago, Queen Elizabeth II had her 94th birthday. It got me thinking: She has always been queen since I've been alive. There are a minority of Brits who are living that can say they remember life when her father, King George VI, ruled. She's been monarch, Queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms, since 1952. For those mathematically challenged that's a buttload of years (68). Queen Victoria ruled about 64 years (1837-1901). Vicki held the record until 4 years ago when Queen Lizzie II past her and every other monarch that ever lived. Very impressive. See what tons of money can do for you. Give you long life and good health. Of course, her mother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, lived to 101, passing in 2002. Longevity may be in her DNA or in her bones. Good for her. With any luck, she'll be the only British monarch in my lifetime. Yes. That means she'll outlive me. I don't doubt that that could happen. She is the longest-serving female head of state in world history, and the world's oldest living monarch, longest-reigning current monarch, and oldest and longest-serving current head of state. [Wikipedia] That's a mouthful!
She has had her Silver (25), Ruby (40), Golden (50) and Diamond (60) Jubilees. She's the only monarch that has ever had a Sapphire Jubilee for reigning 65 years. I'm looking forward to her Platinum (70) Jubilee in 2 years. She'll only be 96. A Spring Chickie. I think she'll be the first monarch to celebrate their Centenary (100 years of rule). She'd be 126. She'll be just hitting her stride.
It got me thinking seriously about her replacement. So, being the curious ape that I am, I checked the old reliable internet. If and when QEII retires or passes on, this is the line who would replace her, in order (age):
She has had her Silver (25), Ruby (40), Golden (50) and Diamond (60) Jubilees. She's the only monarch that has ever had a Sapphire Jubilee for reigning 65 years. I'm looking forward to her Platinum (70) Jubilee in 2 years. She'll only be 96. A Spring Chickie. I think she'll be the first monarch to celebrate their Centenary (100 years of rule). She'd be 126. She'll be just hitting her stride.
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| QEII circa 2015 |
- Charles, Prince of Wales (71)
- William, (Prince) Duke of Cambridge (37) #s 3 - 5 are his children with Catherine Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge
- George, Prince (7)
- Charlotte, Princess (5)
- Louis, Prince (2)
- Harry, (Prince) Duke of Sussex (35) William's brother.
- Archie, (Prince) (1, May) Son of Harry and Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex. He would be the first mixed race monarch and having citizenship of two countries (UK and US), if he ascended the throne. At this time, he holds no title. Poor little guy!
This entirely cuts out Charles' siblings: Anne (69), Andrew (60) and Edward (56) and their progeny. It sucks to be a royal and never have a chance to be King or Queen. However, to make up for that fault, they're still filthy rich. Lucky bastards!
William and Kate's children hold no title other than that of their father's (...of Cambridge). Anyway you cut it, being a royal, whether you rise to King or Queen or not, is still very lucrative. Both Charles and Lady Di's sons are millionaires. All receiving inheritances from both their mother and their maternal grandmother. My mother and maternal grandmother left me NOTHING!!!! I have no royal blood in me at all. Not sure if I have any blood left in me after being sucked dry by the IRS.
Another fun royal fact: Since 2015 under the Perth Agreement, "only the first six in line of succession require the sovereign's consent before they marry; without such consent, they and their children would be disqualified from succession." Wow. Isn't that neat? This really takes the cake when it comes to asking someone's father for their daughter's hand in marriage. If Harry wanted to marry a Las Vegas Stripper or this girl (see below), I'm sure he would have been cut out of the succession immediately.
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What happens in Vegas...
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How the Queen Became Queen Against All Odds
If gambling on who will be monarch was legal, she would have come in as a long shot. QEII was third in line behind her Uncle Edward (VIII) and her father George (VI) when her grandfather, King George V, ruled Britannia. Upon his death, her uncle became Edward VIII, but abdicated his throne because he was schtupping an American socialite divorcee, who he wanted to marry and England said NO! Well, the government said it was unacceptable. So, less than a year into his reign, he bolted.
George became King George VI and ruled 16 years until his death in 1952. Had George and Liz, Queen Mum, given birth to a son after Liz II instead of Margaret, who always lived in her sister's shadow, that child would have ascended to the throne as King...But they didn't and Voila! Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, better known as Queen Elizabeth II, became Queen and has been ever since for as long as I've been crawling, walking, running and now hobbling on Earth. How about that? For an interesting read and if you like annotated lists of lines of succession, go here! How would you like to be 59th in line for the crown? But at least, you get your name on the list and probably a buttload of pounds.
Long live the queen and her progeny. I need to suck up to them because if King Donald I of America gets re-elected in November, I'm considering relocating to one of their Commonwealth Realms.
Until next time, TTFN. (My sign-off is very British!)
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