

When the queen acceded to the throne, Winston Churchill was the first prime minister she had dealings with. However, the monarch must remain neutral in matters of politics and by convention does not vote in elections. The queen plays an important role in approving elected prime ministers and meets them regularly. On September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth became the UK’s longest-ruling monarch overtaking her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria, who reigned for more than 63 years.ĭuring Queen Elizabeth’s 70-year reign, the UK has been led by 14 different prime ministers. Prince William, the duke of Cambridge (39) The current line of succession for the British crown is: However, in 2013, a law was passed that allowed female heirs equal rights in the line of succession. Previously, younger male heirs acceded to the throne displacing elder daughters. The future monarch must also be “in communion” with the Church of England.

Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia, the granddaughter of James I, are eligible to the throne. It is decided based upon descent, religion and primogeniture. Succession to the British throne determines who will become the next king or queen. She was 25 years old when she acceded to the throne, the eldest of King George VI’s children and next in line to rule. Queen Elizabeth II is the third monarch of the House of Windsor, the official name adopted by the royal family in 1917. The platinum jubilee will be celebrated in June in the UK, as people mark the day with street parties and a long weekend. In June 1953, Elizabeth was officially crowned as the queen of the UK and queen regnant of seven Commonwealth countries at the time. Queen Elizabeth II is the United Kingdom’s longest-reigning royal and among the world’s longest-ruling monarchs in history.įebruary 6 marks the queen’s platinum jubilee as she ascended to the throne 70 years ago in 1952, following the death of her father King George VI.
