The Spectator

Did Elizabeth II have anything in common with Elizabeth I?

issue 17 September 2022

Sovereign’s states

When she died, Elizabeth II was Queen of 14 nations other than the UK: Antigua and Barbuda; Australia; the Bahamas; Belize; Canada; Grenada; Jamaica; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; St Kitts and Nevis; St Lucia; St Vincent and the Grenadines; the Solomon Islands; Tuvalu.

– There are a further 18 countries of which she was Queen at some point in her reign: Ceylon (now Sri Lanka); Fiji; The Gambia; Ghana; Guyana; Kenya; Malawi; Malta; Mauritius; Nigeria; Pakistan; Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe); Sierra Leone; South Africa; Tanganyika (now Tanzania); Trinidad and Tobago; Uganda; Barbados (the last country to opt out of being a Commonwealth realm, in November 2021).

First and second

Did Elizabeth II have anything in common with Elizabeth I?

– Both came to the throne at the same age, 25. Elizabeth I acceded at 25 years and 71 days, Elizabeth II at 25 years and 291 days.

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