Queen Elizabeth II: How Long Did She Reign? Quiz

Answer: Her reign lasted longer than...

Queen Elizabeth II was the monarch of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland from 6 February 1952 until her death on 8 September 2022. Her reign lasted 70 years, seven months and two days, totaling 25,827 days.

Fidel Castro came to power after leading the Cuban Revolution that overthrew the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista in 1959. He then ruled Cuba as Prime Minister and later President until he stepped down on 19 February 2008. Castro's long tenure was made possible by establishing a one-party socialist state, suppressing opposition, and maintaining strong support through his charismatic leadership and Cold War alliances. He was succeeded by his brother, Raul Castro.

Answer: Her reign was shorter than...

It takes Uranus approximately 84 Earth years to complete one full orbit around the Sun. This means that a single Uranian year is longer than Queen Elizabeth II's reign, which lasted just over 70 years. Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and was discovered by William Herschel in 1781.

Its slow orbit is due to its great distance from the Sun - about 2.87 billion kilometres (1.78 billion miles) - resulting in one of the longest orbital periods in our solar system.

Answer: Her reign lasted longer than...

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was officially established in 1922 following the Russian Revolution and the subsequent Civil War. It became one of the world's two superpowers and shaped much of 20th-century geopolitics during the Cold War.

The USSR existed for 69 years until its dissolution in December 1991. From Lenin to Gorbachev, the country underwent vast political, social and economic transformations. Its existence fell just short of slightly less than Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign, which began in 1952.

Answer: Her reign lasted longer than...

Actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and actress Joanne Woodward were married for 50 years, from 1958 until Newman's death in 2008. Their long-lasting marriage was celebrated in Hollywood as an example of enduring love and partnership in an industry known for its short-lived relationships. However, Queen Elizabeth II's reign of over 70 years surpassed even this remarkable union.

Answer: Her reign was shorter than...

Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens in 1835, was a celebrated American author and humorist, best known for classics such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn". He lived for 75 years, passing away in 1910. His works captured the spirit of 19th century America and remain influential today.

Although Twain lived longer than most people in his era, he still died at a much younger age than Queen Elizabeth II.

Answer: Her reign was shorter than...

The "CBS Evening News" first aired in 1948, and has since become one of the most enduring nightly news programmes in the United States. Over the decades, it has featured prominent anchors such as Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, and more recently Norah O'Donnell.

The programme has covered events ranging from the Cold War to the global pandemic. Still running today, it has been broadcast for over 75 years - longer than Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year, 7-month, 2-day reign.

Answer: Her reign was shorter than...

Notre-Dame Cathedral, one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals in the world, began construction in 1163 under the reign of King Louis VII of France. The building process spanned nearly two centuries until the cathedral was largely completed around 1345. During this time, generations of architects, craftsmen, and labourers contributed to its impressive towers, stained glass windows, and flying buttresses. Notre-Dame has witnessed centuries of French history, surviving revolutions, wars, and restorations.

The cathedral's construction period of 182 years far surpasses Queen Elizabeth II's reign of 70 years.

Answer: Her reign lasted longer than...

The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic conflicts fought in England between the rival Houses of Lancaster and York from 1455 to 1487. The wars ended with the rise of the Tudor dynasty, when Henry VII defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field.

The period was characterised by shifting alliances, multiple kings, and significant bloodshed among the English nobility. Despite its significant historical impact, the 32-year period of conflict lasted considerably less time than Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign.

Answer: Her reign lasted longer than...

Osteocytes are the most common type of bone cell in the human body and have an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years. Formed from osteoblasts, these long-lived cells become embedded in the bone matrix, where they help to maintain bone tissue and regulate mineral content.

Although osteocytes are remarkably durable for individual cells, their multi-decade lifespan is still less than half that of Queen Elizabeth II's 70-year reign.

Answer: Her reign lasted longer than...

On 17 December 1903, the Wright brothers achieved the first powered flight near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Just 66 years later, on 20 July 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully landed on the Moon, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on its surface.

This astonishing leap in aviation and space technology occurred within a single lifetime. However, this transformative period of 66 years was still shorter than Queen Elizabeth II's reign.

Answer: Her reign was shorter than...

Galapagos tortoises are among the longest-living vertebrates on Earth, with an average lifespan of over 100 years. Some individuals are known to have lived even longer. The famous tortoise Lonesome George, for example, is believed to have been over a century old when he died in 2012.

These slow-moving giants have become symbols of longevity and resilience. They often outlive generations of human caretakers and comfortably exceed the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

Answer: Her reign was shorter than...

Plutonium-238 is a radioactive isotope primarily used as a power source for spacecraft, such as the Voyager probes and the Mars rovers, thanks to its reliable heat-generating decay. It has a half-life of approximately 87.7 years, meaning it takes that long for half of a given amount to decay.

This makes it ideal for long-duration missions beyond Earth. This half-life easily exceeds the length of Queen Elizabeth II's reign.