Longest royal reigns
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Queen Elizabeth II was less than two years from surpassing Louis XIV, the “Sun King”, as the world’s longest-reigning monarch
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Louis XIV
(1643-1715) France
72 years, 110 days

Queen Elizabeth II 
(1952-2022) UK*
70 years+

Bhumibol Adulyadej
(1946-2016) Thailand
70 years, 126 days

Johann II
1858-1929 Liechtenstein
70 years, 91 days

Kʼinich Janaabʼ Pakal I 
(615-683) Palenque†
68 years, 33 days
          
Franz Joseph I
(1848-67) Austria 
(1867-1916) Austria-Hungary
67 years, 355 days

Ferdinand III
(1759-1816) Sicily 
(1816-25) Two Sicilies
65 years, 90 days

Victoria
(1837-1901) UK, British Empire territories
63 years, 216 days

James I 
(1213-1276)
Kingdom of Aragon
62 years, 319 days

Hirohito
Empire of Japan (1926-47) 
Japan (1947-89)
62 years, 13 days
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Pepi II: Ancient Egyptian pharaoh is often cited as longest reigning monarch in history but precise dates cannot be verified. Acceded around 2278 BC at age six, and is said to have ruled for 94 years
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Queen Ankhesenpepi II holding her son, Pepi II 

*And 14 Commonwealth realms. †Maya city-state

Pictures: Louvre, Government of Thailand, Getty Images, Newscom,
The Princely Collections, Retratos de la Historia, National Portrait Gallery, MNAC, Library of Congress, Brooklyn Museum
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Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica © GRAPHIC NEWS