reigning

Reigning refers to the period during which a sovereign occupies the throne and exercises the duties and powers associated with monarchy. The term can describe both the act of ruling from the throne and the duration of time a certain ruler remains in power. In most traditions, a reign begins at accession, the moment a new monarch takes the throne, which can occur upon the death or abdication of the previous ruler. The reign ends upon the monarch’s death, abdication, or, in rare cases, deposition. In many cases the start of a reign is dated from accession rather than coronation, since coronation is a ceremonial event that may occur later.

Regnal years are commonly used to designate time within a reign, counted from the year of accession. Monarchs with the same name are distinguished by regnal numerals (for example, Henry VIII). The concept of reigning spans a wide range of political contexts; the powers and responsibilities attached to a reign differ substantially between monarchies with absolute authority and constitutional monarchies where the monarch’s role is largely ceremonial.

In constitutional monarchies, the reigning monarch’s day‑to‑day governance is typically exercised by elected officials, and the reign is often seen as a constitutional or symbolic period rather than an active political regime. In other systems, a reigning monarch may wield significant political influence during the tenure of the crown.

The idea of reigning is used in historical and contemporary discourse to mark the legitimacy, succession, and duration of leadership. Notable recent reigns include Elizabeth II (1952–2022) and Charles III (began in 2022).