Why the Queen is a safe pitch-woman for advertisers ... sort of

Last week, Queen Elizabeth become the longest-reigning British monarch. Which may be why she's also enjoyed such a long career appearing in ad campaigns.

Remember this 1998 ad starring Elizabeth II?

Sometimes flogging discount furniture like in that Canadian ad from 1998. But even non-Commonwealth countries like a little royal star power in their campaigns.

Chengdu, China — home of the giant pandas — ran this ad during 2012's Diamond Jubilee. In it we see Queen Elizabeth, along with Prince William and an irritated Kate, waiting in the rain in front of the palace.

Despite Kate's insistence that they take the royal limo, William hails a taxi painted to resemble a panda.

But for sheer volume of telly adverts, British marketers rule. Here, we see the Queen in a 2012 ad for Foxy Bingo.

While this T-Mobile ad for 2011's Royal Wedding featured the Queen waving in an uncharacteristically enthusiastic and rhythmic manner as she enters the Abbey.

In this Body Shop ad from earlier this year, the Queen is being served breakfast in bed while surrounded by innumerable corgis.

Of course, in reality none of these Queens was the real one. Even as the real Queen has grown elderly, actresses resembling her remain in high demand for ads and promotional events.

But unfortunately, in all the kingdom, fewer than 10 good lookalikes are available, which was made even worse by last year's retirement of the world's leading Queen lookalike, Jeanette Charles.

However, new talent is emerging all the time, like this Australian man who appears as the Queen in an ad for a music festival.

For more than six decades, when marketers have wanted to get attention, create humour, or attract younger consumers by demonstrating lack of respect for authority, they've turned to the Queen. Long may she reign.

Bruce Chambers is a syndicated advertising columnist for CBC Radio.