Reflections | Like Queen Elizabeth, China’s Kangxi Emperor had a long and glorious reign; he did start younger than her, though, at the age of seven

As one who doesn’t understand the appeal of monarchy, I can see Queen Elizabeth has done a great job during her long reign – as did China’s Emperor Kangxi

A Manchu ruling a largely Han Chinese kingdom, he showed unusual astuteness in his record 61-year reign, one his grandson avoided exceeding by abdicating

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Queen Elizabeth and other members of the British royal family appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 5 to mark her 70 years on the throne. Photo: AP/Pool

Wee Kek Koon

Published: 9:45am, 19 Jun 2022

Queen Elizabeth, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor on April 21, 1926, marked her 70th year as queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms earlier this month. The Platinum Jubilee was celebrated in the UK with an impressive show of pomp and ceremony, which the British are so good at putting on, as well as street parties and pop concerts.

Born in a republic and having spent most of my life in said republic and a special administrative region of a socialist state, I don’t understand the appeal of monarchy at all, especially in the present day.

It somewhat offends my egalitarian sensibilities that I have to show special deference to individuals whose social rank and eminence is the result of being born to a certain family, instead of personal achievement, virtue, electoral victory or even the manipulation of a political system (which in itself is an achievement, for better or worse).

In her long reign, the longest in British history, Elizabeth II has done an excellent job as a constitutional monarch who reigns but does not rule. She enjoys the genuine affection of her people and I don’t begrudge her the party that she rightfully deserves.

Queen Elizabeth takes her seat beside Lee Kuan Yew, the then prime minister of the Republic of Singapore, a Commonwealth member and former British colony, for a banquet during an official tour of the country in 1989. Photo: Getty Images

The longest-reigning ruler of China was Emperor Kangxi, born Aisin-Gioro Hiowan-yei on May 4 1654, according to the Gregorian calendar, who reigned for 61 years, 318 days from 1661 until his death in 1722.

He ascended the throne at the age of seven at a very critical time in China. It had been a mere 17 years since the invading Manchus formally established the Qing dynasty, and Kangxi was only the second Manchu emperor to rule over an empire overwhelmingly peopled by the Han Chinese, who greatly outnumbered their conqueror-rulers.