A Word About the British Monarchy

The birth of a great-grandson to Queen Elizabeth made me do some math.

The Queen is 87. If the new baby were to rule as King of England until that age, the year would be 2100. That is 146 years after the Queen ascended to the throne herself.

To bring a bit of perspective to those numbers, 146 years before Elizabeth II became queen, the year was 1806. The king was George III, monarch during the American Revolution, who died that year.

Even by British, and British monarchical, standards, these are impressive measures of historical continuity. And they are impressive measures of the Queen’s long service to her country. No doubt she wishes this new baby can rule as long, and bring the monarchy as far into its future, as she has done--and it is hard not to sympathize with her, after 61 years on the throne.