The Lady Diana Discussion Board: Interesting Royal Facts

Source: a book titled 'Kings & Queens of Great Britain: A Very Peculiar History," printed in 2015.

First, Last, Youngest, Tallest

Longest Reigns: Victoria, with 63 years, 216 days; Elizabeth II, 59 years, 96 days.

NOW ELIZABETH II SURPASSED VICTORIA: 70 years, 7 months and 2 days.

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Shortest Reigns (then and same today): Lady Jane Grey: 9 days; Alfward: 16 days; Edward IV: 78 days.

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Oldest Monarch on Accession: William IV: 64 years; Edward VII: 59 years.

NOW CHARLES III: 73 years.

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Youngest Monarch on Accession: (then and same today) Mary, Queen of Scots: 6 days (but crowned at 9 months).

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Tallest King: Edward IV (6 ft 3 in); Henry VIII: 6 ft 2 in).

LATER Edward IV; future King William V (who have the same height as Edward IV); and Henry VIII.

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Last English King to Die in a Battle: Richard III, at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.

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Last British King to Die in a Battle: James IV (of Scotland), at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

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Last King to Lead His Troops into Battle: George II at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743.

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Youngest Age at Marriage: future David II of Scotland, 4, when he wed Joan, 7, the daughter of Edward II of England.

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Most Legitimate Children: George III, who had 15 children by Queen Charlotte.

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Most Illegitimate Children: Henry I, who had between 20 and 25 children with 6 different women (allegedly); Charles II, who acknowleged 14 children with 8 different women; and William IV, who had 10 children with Dorothea Bland (Mrs. Jordan).

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This book said this rhyme was to help British students learn the list of their monarchs dating from 1066. It goes like this:

Willy, Willy, Harry, Steve, Henry, Dick, John, Henry three; Then three Edwards, Richard two, Henry four, five, six, then who? Edward four, five, Dick the bad, Two more Henries, Ned the lad; Bloody Mary she came next, then we have our Good Queen Bess. From Scotland we got James the Vain; Charlie one, two, James again. William and Mary, Anna Gloria, Four Georges, William and Victoria. Edward, George, the same again, Now Elizabeth---and the end.

But now you can just alter this way: Elizabeth the Second and Charlie three, Willy once again and George the Seventh. Or something like that!

Interestingly, that rhyme did not mention Lady Jane Grey, the 9-Day Queen. Or the Cromwell men.

I wonder what that similar rhyme about Queen Consorts and Prince Consorts would look like dating from 1066 through the present day. Someone would have to look up list of these people to make that rhyme.

I hope you enjoy reading them.