• Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne from 1952 until her death in 2022
  • She celebrated her 70th (platinum) anniversary in 2022
  • Did you know? She was never meant to be Queen

Queen Elizabeth was the head of the British monarchy. She had been on the throne for 70 years. That made her the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Great Britain. But it almost never happened. Here's why.

Queen Elizabeth: A royal scandal made her the future queen 

During her grandfather's reign, Elizabeth was third in line to the British throne, behind her uncle Edward and her father George. After the death of her grandfather George V, in 1936, her uncle ascended the throne as Edward VIII. He fell in love with Wallis Simpson, whom he later married.

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Since she was a divorcée, their love was not tolerated in the Royal Family, so Edward VIII abdicated as king in the same year. His brother therefore took his place and became the new king of Great Britain - King George VI. During his reign, male descendants had a preference in the line of succession to the throne.

However, since his daughter Elizabeth had only one younger sister, she could become queen. Elizabeth's father died on February 6, 1952, and from that day began her reign, which continued until her death.

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