Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Wednesday 9 September 2015

A Royal milestone


Today, at about 5.30 this afternoon, Her Majesty The Queen became the longest reigning British monarch.

The Special Correspondent sent me the link about calculating the exact time when the current reign would break the previous record and which can be seen at http://www.macleans.ca/society/crown-calculus-the-math-behind-queen-victorias-record-reign/

The BBC News website has acomparison of the two longest reigns in  Queen Elizabeth II: Elizabeth and Victoria in numbers

The Daily Telegraph has an illustrated account of the day's events which can be seen at Queen Elizabeth II becomes longest-reigning monarch on a day of characteristic modesty

Now I know Jacobites will, of course, cite the longer de jure reign of King James III and VIII from 1701 -1766. However Princess Philip of the Hellenes, as some Jacobites regard Queen Elizabeth II, will outstrip that in 2016 on May 21st if my rough calculation is right.

Long may she reign ! 


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