There will probably not be another Queen ruling the United Kingdom anytime soon. Not that there aren't any more Queens in the world, but Elizabeth II is the most talked about, and the most popular Queen of them all. And she's been the Queen for all of my life.
Hard to believe that Queen Elizabeth II has been the head of the royal family for 57 years and counting, with no signs of turning the helm over to her son. Only Queen Victoria (63 years) and King George III (59 years) have reigned longer.
In case you're wondering, the Queen's surname is Windsor, and she is the fifth descendant of the House of Windsor. And although her kids are decreed to use Mountbatten-Windsor as their surname, the Queen's decree is that the next-in-line will reign as a member of the House of Windsor as well.
But when she passes, either her son or her grandson will be the new King, and chances are William or Henry will have a male heir. If the monarchy still survives by then. So chances are there may never be another Queen for awhile.
Speaking of Elizabeths, the first one, also known as the 'Virgin Queen' having never married and bore a child, reigned between 1558-1603. Cate Blanchett played her in two movies; the first, 'Elizabeth' in 1998, depicted the early reigning years, and the sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age' in 2007, the latter years. Cate won a Golden Globe for Best Actress for the first one, and was nominated for Best Actress Oscar in both movies. Although there are several historical inconsistencies, I recommend both movies if you're a history or early modern period buff.
Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII, but she had to wait her turn to serve until after Edward VI (her brother) and Mary I (her half sister) following Henry VIII's death. She was also the last of the House of Tudor dynasty. Her half sister Mary I (of 'Bloody Mary' fame) was the first Queen Regnant (a ruling Queen -- as opposed to a Queen Consort, the non-ruling, wife of a King).
Mary I is also well known for restoring England to Roman Catholicism, albeit for a short while, until Elizabeth I reversed the re-establishment. Mary's inability to bear a child (she reportedly died as a result of a cancerous tumor in her uterus), allowed her half-sister Elizabeth to become the Queen after Mary's death. The first instance of back-to-back Queens Regnant. Elizabeth I reigned for a period of 45 years, known as 'The Golden Age.'
Two (or three if you count Mary of 'William & Mary) more Queens Regnant followed Elizabeth I. Queen Anne (reign: 1702-1714) and Queen Victoria (reign: 1837-1901). And 51 years after Victoria's (of the 'Victorian Era' fame) death, Elizabeth II herself became a Queen Regnant. And at age 83, she still rules.
Long live the Queen!
