Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne for over 70 years, making her the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Throughout her reign, she had worked with a total of 15 Prime Ministers, each with their unique approach to leadership and governance. From Churchill to Johnson, we have compiled the Prime Ministers who served alongside Queen Elizabeth II.
The legendary British statesman, Winston Churchill, served as Prime Minister twice, the first time from 1940 to 1945 and the second time from 1951 to 1955. Churchill was a key figure in British politics during World War II, leading the country through its darkest hour.
The former Foreign Secretary, Anthony Eden, became Prime Minister after Churchill's retirement in 1955. He is best remembered for his handling of the Suez Crisis in 1956.
Harold Macmillan served as Prime Minister from 1957 to 1963. He is credited with overseeing a period of economic growth and modernisation in Britain known as the "Macmillan boom."
The Conservative politician, Alec Douglas-Home, became Prime Minister after Macmillan's resignation in 1963. His tenure was brief, lasting only one year, and was marked by economic challenges.
The charismatic politician Harold Wilson led the Labour Party to victory in the 1964 general election. He was known for his social and economic reforms, including the establishment of the Open University and the introduction of the Race Relations Act
Edward Heath served as Prime Minister from 1970 to 1974. He is best remembered for leading Britain into the European Economic Community, which later became the European Union.
James Callaghan served as Prime Minister from 1976 to 1979. He is credited for his handling of a period of economic turmoil known as the "Winter of Discontent."
Best known as the first female prime minister in British history, Margaret Thatcher served as Prime Minister for 11 years, making her the longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century. She is remembered for her conservative policies and her role in ending the Cold War.
John Major succeeded Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in 1990. He is credited with overseeing a period of economic growth and stability in the 1990s. He introduced a program called the Citizen's Charter, which aimed to improve the quality of public services.
Tony Blair served as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007. Blair's tenure was marked by a focus on social issues such as education, health care, and poverty reduction. He introduced a minimum wage and increased funding for the National Health Service.
The Labour Party politician, Gordon Brown, succeeded Blair as Prime Minister in 2007. He is remembered for his efforts to stabilize the British economy during the global financial crisis of 2008.
The former Leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, served as Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016. He is best remembered for his role in holding the Brexit referendum in 2016, which led to Britain's decision to leave the European Union.
Following the resignation of David Cameron after the Brexit referendum, Theresa May became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2016. One of May's major challenges as Prime Minister was navigating the complex Brexit negotiations with the European Union.
A former journalist and mayor of London, Boris Johnson, became Prime Minister in 2019 after winning a leadership contest within the Conservative Party. Johnson's tenure as Prime Minister was marked by his Brexit stance and his management during the pandemic.
Liz Truss became the UK's first female Conservative Prime Minister in September 2022. She is known as the shortest-serving Prime Minister in UK history, resigning after just 45 days in office.
