Hassanal Bolkiah the Sultan of Brunei, has officially become the world’s longest-serving living monarch following the demise of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.
Bolkiah, who took over the throne in 1967, has reigned for 54 years and 339 days (as of on Friday) – more than 4 years longer than Margrethe II of Denmark, who is now the 2nd-longest reigning monarch.
Before her death, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who ascended the throne at the age of 25 in 1952 after the conclusion of the World War II, was far and away the longest serving monarch in the world, marking the 70th anniversary of her coronation earlier this year.
In addition to being the country’s Sultan and monarch, 76-year-old Hassanal Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III has also been the Prime Minister of Brunei since the country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984.
Queen Elizabeth, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, and the nation’s figurehead for seven decades, died at her home in Scotland aged 96, on Thursday, September 8. Her eldest son, Charles, 73, is now king of the United Kingdom and the head of state of 14 other realms including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.