Prior to her sad death at the age of 96, Queen Elizabeth II had the accolade of not only being the oldest monarch in British history – but being the oldest monarch in the world.
Her Majesty – who passed away on September 8, just months after marking 70 years on the throne – took over the honour in 2015, following the death of His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia at the age of 90.
King Charles, meanwhile, will turn 74 when he marks his first birthday as monarch on November 14 – but he is far from the oldest ruler, as there are other royals around the world who have reached impressive ages – and have presided over their own countries for a long time.
Who are the world’s other oldest monarchs? Here’s what you need to know…
Who are the oldest monarchs in the world?
The world’s oldest monarchs include the following:
Emir Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman – the ruler of the emirate of Ajman in the UAE is reported to be 91 years old – making him the world’s oldest monarch following the death of the Queen. He has been the UAE’s king since 1981.
Awujale Sikiru Kayode Adetona, king of Ijebuland, Nigeria – the 87-year-old has been ruler of the Nigerian kingdom since 1960.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia – the Saudi Arabian ruler is 86 years old – but has had one of the shorter terms as monarch, having only succeeded the throne in January 2015.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark – the Danish monarch is 82 years old, and has been in her royal role since 1972. Following the death of the Queen she is now Europe’s longest-reigning sovereign.
Prince Hans-Adam III of Liechtenstein – he may be head of the monarchy in one of the world’s smallest nations, but he’s also one of the older monarchs – Hans-Adam is 77, and has been reigning prince since November 1989.
King Harald V of Norway – the Scandinavian monarch is 85 years old, having been on the Norwegian throne since January 1991.
The Prince Of Wales, meanwhile, was born on November 14 1948.
Although he will mark his 74th birthday on that date, it has yet to be confirmed whether he will follow in his mother’s footsteps and have a second birthday celebration, as she did in June each year with Trooping The Colour.
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FAQs
Answer: A hereditary monarchy in Japan dates back to 660, making it the world's oldest. Tradition has it that Akihito has been Emperor since 1989. However, the number of Emperors is a subject of much debate. According to tradition, he is the 125th Emperor.
Who was the first monarch ever? ›
Some of the oldest recorded and evidenced monarchies were Narmer, Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt c. 3100 BCE, and Enmebaragesi, a Sumerian King of Kish c. 2600 BCE. From earliest records, monarchs could be directly hereditary, while others were elected from among eligible members.
Who is the oldest person to become king or queen? ›
The King ascended to the throne at the age of 73, making Charles III the oldest person to become monarch in the United Kingdom. He was born at Buckingham Palace on 14 November 1948, four years before his mother's incredible reign began. King Charles III has distributed Maundy money for the first time in his reign.
Who were the longest living monarchs? ›
The 28 longest-reigning monarchs
- Louis XIV, France (72 years, 110 days) ...
- Elizabeth II, United Kingdom (70 years, 214 days) ...
- Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX), Thailand (70 years, 126 days) ...
- K'inich Janaab' Pakal, Palenque (68 years, 33 days)
- Franz Joseph, Austria (67 years, 355 days)
- Chan Imix K'awaiil (67 years, 130 days)
Katharine, the duch*ess of Kent, is ringing in her royal birthday — as the oldest member of the British royal family. The duch*ess of Kent (née Worsley) turned 91 on Thursday and released a rare statement on the special occasion.
What is the oldest kingdom in history? ›
The first kingdoms were established about 3000 B.C.E. in Kengir, also known as Sumer, and Kemet, also known as ancient Egypt. Sumer was a kingdom that existed between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in what-is-now Iraq.
Who ruled the whole world in history? ›
Even the most prestigious and well known rulers like Gengis Khan, Alexander the Great, and Caesar still had the majority of the world to take over before the end of their reign. Only the British empire has come closest to doing this, as it is the largest known empire to have existed.
Who is the most powerful king in the world today? ›
Salman, King of Saudi Arabia.
Which is the oldest dynasty in the world? ›
Option A- The Maurya Empire is the oldest dynasty among the options that have been provided.
Who was the youngest queen ever? ›
The youngest ever monarch was Mary, Queen of Scots, who became Queen in 1542 when she was just six days old. The contemporary form of the coronation dates from 1902, when King Edward VII was crowned.
As the youngest son of Charles and Diana, Prince Harry, known as the Duke of Sussex on the royal family's official website, has slowly been moved down the line of succession with the birth of each of his older brother's children. As of 2024, he is fifth in line to the throne.
Which king died at the youngest age? ›
| Edward VI |
|---|
| Died | 6 July 1553 (aged 15) Greenwich Palace, England |
| Burial | 8 August 1553 Westminster Abbey |
| House | Tudor |
| Father | Henry VIII of England |
12 more rowsJapan, considered a constitutional monarchy under the Imperial House of Japan, is traditionally said to have originated with the mythical Emperor Jimmu. The first verifiable historiographical evidence begins with Emperor Kinmei in the 6th century. It is the oldest continuous hereditary monarchy in the world.
Who was the most absolute monarch of all time? ›
King of France and Navarre 1638 – 1715
The reign of Louis XIV is often referred to as “Le Grand Siècle” (the Great Century), forever associated with the image of an absolute monarch and a strong, centralised state.
Who was the shortest living monarch? ›
Ellen Castelow. Tragic Lady Jane Grey is remembered in British history as the monarch with the shortest reign… just nine days.
Who is the oldest monarch to succeed? ›
King Charles III now holds that honour.
Which monarchy is the most powerful? ›
The top 5 monarchies by annual military expenditure are: the United Kingdom, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Canada. The top 5 monarchies by population size are: Japan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Spain, and Canada.
What is the oldest form of government monarchy? ›
In monarchy, the government is usually headed by a single person called a king or, sometimes, a queen. When the king or queen dies, the son, daughter or a relative takes over the government. A commoner cannot become a king. It is the oldest form of government.
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