Elizabeth II Wasn’t Just The World’s Longest-Reigning Queen—Here Are The Other Big Records She Broke

Topline

Queen Elizabeth II was Britain’s longest-serving monarch when she died at the age of 96 on Thursday, acquiring and inspiring a number of other world records during her unprecedented 70-year reign.

Key Facts

Elizabeth II, who passed away at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on Thursday, was the longest-reigning and oldest monarch in British history, records previously held by her great, great grandmother Queen Victoria, who ruled for more than 63 years and lived to be 81 years old.

She holds the title as the world’s longest-reigning queen and the second longest-reigning monarch—King Louis XIV ruled France for more than 72 years—and at the time of her death she was the world’s oldest and longest-serving living monarch.

The queen’s long reign served to make Prince Philip, her husband, Britain’s longest-serving consort and her son, now King Charles III, the longest heir apparent to the throne.

According to Guinness World Records, Queen Elizabeth II also holds the record for the most countries to be Head of State simultaneously, which stands at 15.

With her image appearing on at least 33 different currencies—including in the U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand—the queen holds the record for the most currencies featuring the same individual.

As the only person to have officially opened the Summer Olympic Games more than once—first opening the Montreal 1976 Games and later infamously “jumping” out of a helicopter with James Bond, played by Daniel Craig, to open the London 2012 Games—the queen holds record for the most Summer Games opened by an individual (Prince Philip also opened the 1956 Melbourne Games on her behalf).

Tangent

The queen owned the world’s largest private art collection, according to Guinness, including thousands of paintings and some 450,000 photographs. As with much of the royal fortune, a great deal of this collection was not owned by the queen personally but belonged instead to the Crown, the broader institution of the monarchy. The Crown Estate oversees the monarchy’s assets, which are worth billions and vastly exceed the queen’s personal fortune. In 2021, Forbes estimated the queen’s net worth at $500 million, largely thanks to her investments, art, jewels and real estate, including two castles.

News Peg

Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday afternoon, just days after formally appointing Liz Truss as prime minister. Her son and heir, now King Charles III, immediately inherited the crown and the monarch’s death kicked-off long-rehearsed plans for changes to government, funeral arrangements and a period of national mourning. The king has declared a period of official royal mourning from Friday until seven days after the queen’s state funeral. Truss has yet to outline the length of national mourning, which will likely end just after the funeral and last for at least ten days. The mourning period includes observing protocols like flying flags at half mast, gun salutes and scaling back government business and cultural and sporting events. Charles is expected to address the nation on Friday.

Surprising Fact

Jubilees, which marked key milestone years over the queen’s reign, were often used as launching pads for people to try and break world records. Celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, sailors set the record for largest parade of boats after hundreds sailed down the Thames in London. This record was later beaten as part of Malaysia Day celebrations in 2014. Ten years later, revelers attempted to break the world record for the largest picnic to mark the queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Further Reading

King Charles III Era Begins After Queen Elizabeth’s Death— Here’s Who Is Next In Line For The Throne (Forbes)

Inside ‘The Firm’: How The Royal Family’s $28 Billion Money Machine Really Works (Forbes)