Jubilee nation

See updated blog at http://www.vaguelyinteresting.co.uk/?p=250 

Assuming the Queen makes it to February, she will join Queen Victoria as the only British monarch to reach the landmark of a diamond jubilee. Elizabeth II then has another 3 years, 7 months and 3 days to become the longest serving British monarch of all time.

Although no King has reached sixty years on the throne, George III, Henry III and Edward III prove that longevity is not the exclusive preserve of female rulers. They are the only three English monarchs to have reached the landmark of a golden jubilee (although only George III can be said to have celebrated a golden jubilee as it is his fifty years on the throne that kicks off the age of royal jubilee celebrations). James I of Scotland joins them as the fourth longest reigning British monarch.

It might be pure coincidence that the English kings were all the third to bear their royal name, but this could be auspicious for the Prince of Wales if he decides to take his birth name as his royal name and become Charles III.

Nine other English (or UK) monarchs reached their silver jubilees, ranging over a millennia of British history from Aethelred the Unready to George V. Scotland also has nine monarchs who reigned for more than 25 years.

United Kingdom or England

Diamond

Queen Victoria – 20 June 1837 (63 years 7 months 2 days)

Queen Elizabeth II (60 years on 6 February 20120)

Gold

George III - 25 October 1810 (59 years 3 months 2 days)

Henry III – 18 October 1266 (56 years 29 days)

Edward III – 25 January 1375 (50 years 4 months 25 days)

Silver

Elizabeth I - 17 November 17 1583 (44 years 4 months 5 days)

Henry VI - 1 September 1447 (39 years 9 months 12 days)

Aethelred II - 18 March 1003 (38 years 1 months 5 days)

Henry VIII - 21 April 1534 (37 years 9 months 7 days)

Henry I - 3 August 3 1125 (35 years 3 months 28 days)

Henry II - 25 October 1179 (34 years 8 months 11 days)

Edward I - 20 November 1297 (34 years 7 months 14 days)

George II - 11 June 1752 (33 years 1 months 14 days)

George V - 6 May 1935 (25 years 8 months 15 days)

Scotland

Gold

James VI (later James I of England) – 24 July 1593 (57 years and 246 days)

Silver

William I – 6 December 1190 (48 years, 360 days)

David II – 7 June 1354 (41 years, 260 days)

Alexander III – 6 July 1274 (36 years, 256 days)

Malcolm III - 17 March 1083 (35 years, 241 days)

Alexander II - 4 December 1239 (34 years, 214 days)

James I - 4 April 1431 (30 years, 323 days)

James V - 9 September 1538 (29 years, 96 days)

David I - 23 April 1149 (29 years, 31 days)

James III - 3 August 1485 (27 years, 313 days)

See updated blog at http://www.vaguelyinteresting.co.uk/?p=250