How Old Did Queen Elizabeth II’s Parents Live to Be?

Queen Elizabeth II is currently 92 years old, and her 93rd birthday is quickly approaching. Yet the queen hasn’t shown many signs of slowing down. She often makes appearances, is always dressed her absolute best, and even still drives herself here and there. At this rate, it seems as if she could live forever. But how old were the queen’s parents when they died, and what might that say about her?

Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II | Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

The life expectancy in the United Kingdom is 80.96 years — and the queen has far surpassed that

Every country in the world has a different life expectancy. The life expectancies vary based on multiple factors. A few of those include available health care, diet and nutrient access, and education and cognitive activity. In the U.K., the average lifespan for men and woman is just under 81 years. And Elizabeth II surpassed that milestone more than 10 years ago. The queen has had the throne since 1952, and she’s had her husband ruling by her side since then as well. In all that time, the queen has never faltered. She’s always out in public doing as the royals would do; she has hardly ever missed an event for one reason or another. And despite being 92, it doesn’t appear she’s going anywhere any time soon.

Elizabeth the Queen Mother died in 2002 at age 101

Perhaps the queen’s amazing genes come from her mother, Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who lived to be a shocking 101 years old. Once King George VI died in 1952, the rule went to Elizabeth II, since her mother was not a blood relative. Elizabeth I then became known as “The Queen Mother” up until her death in 1952. She passed away in her sleep in Windsor, dying of natural causes.

King George VI, Elizabeth II’s father, died in 1952 at age 56

While Elizabeth II’s mother lived quite a long time, her father did not. King George VI died in 1952 at age 56. George’s life was cut short when he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had one lung removed, but he died in his sleep not long after. It was ruled that he had died of coronary thrombosis, or a blockage of blood flow to the heart from the coronary artery. The death was young, but for someone born in the 1800s, he still lived quite a while. Elizabeth II immediately succeeded him.

If the queen’s life expectancy is anything like her mother’s, she’ll live quite a long time

Elizabeth II has been the queen ever since, and she has made quite a name for herself in the nearly 70 years she has been ruling. And if the queen takes after her mother, 92 means she still has a lot of time left to make appearances, drive herself around, and just be the queen. Her husband, Prince Philip, is 97. He recently decided to retire from the public eye and makes very few appearances nowadays. However, the couple still seems to be doing well, and Elizabeth II is still in very good health for an elderly woman.

Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook!