From Sleeping Habits to Diet, Can We Pick Up a Few Longevity Tips From the Queen?

Longevity

This month Queen Elizabeth II became the second-longest reigning monarch in the history of the world. Photo: Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Longevity may be the most important trend we’ve ever experienced. It’s driven by — and in turn, it affects — everything from health to housing, money to technology, lifestyle to social policy. There’s so much to be aware of — and it’s just getting started! Now you can keep up with all the latest developments in this weekly column.

 

This month Queen Elizabeth II edged past former Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej to become the second-longest reigning monarch in history. She’s still two years shy of the all-time leader, Louis XIV of France — but he was only four years old when he became king. He died at age 76 — twenty years younger than Queen Elizabeth is today.

Given her amazing record — and long may it continue — I was wondering if we could learn any secrets of longevity from her.

Somewhat to my surprise (although I guess I shouldn’t be), I discovered that this is an amazingly sought-after question on Google.

According to this report, her bedtime routine generates 136 per cent more queries than the sleep habits of all the other royals surveyed. (This left me way back at the starting line: I had no idea people would be searching for the sleep habits of royals in the first place.)

Okay, but now that we’re here — what is that bedtime routine? And what other longevity-producing habits does the Queen follow, that perhaps we could learn from?

According to the article:

  • The Queen sleeps 8.5 hours each night
  • She goes to bed at the same time each night (11 p.m.). The article notes that experts recommend going to bed at the same time, as it trains your body to feel sleepy as you approach that hour
  • She eats light, protein-filled meals at regular times
  • She likes fish and vegetables
  • She has a light breakfast of Special K with fruit, which, according to the article, “will give her slow-burning energy and keep her fresh throughout a busy royal schedule”

By the way, in case you’re interested in the sleep routines of other royals, the article offers some highlights as well.

Long live the Queen!

David Cravit is a Vice-President at ZoomerMedia, and Chief Membership Officer of CARP. He is also the author of two books on the “reinvention” of aging. You can check out some of his other writing here.