Elizabeth II is a reigning monarch.
2003 New Year Honours . These awards are presented by or in the name of the reigning monarch , currently Queen Elizabeth II or her vice-regal representative . Elizabeth II . In 2015 , she surpassed the reign of her great-great-grandmother , Queen Victoria , to become the longest-reigning British monarch and the longest-reigning queen regnant and female head of state in world history . In October 2016 , she became the longest currently reigning monarch and head of state following the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand .