Today, at the age of 81 2/3s, after a huge number of years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II became the oldest monarch in Britain’s history. Perhaps she took King Henry II’s advice in Lion in Winter, who noted that it’s hard to be “King, alive, and fifty all at once.”

The Queen still has eight and a half years to go before she surpasses Victoria’s other landmark, a staggering 64 years on the throne. Of course, her mother lived to be 101, so she’s got a pretty good chance of becoming the longest-reigning British monarch ever.

As to having an entire era named after her, though… sorry. The Elizabethan Age is already taken by someone else.

Liked it? Take a second to support Andrew on Patreon!