When Shakespeare began his writing career, how long had Queen Elizabeth been on the throne?

To answer this question, we need to know two key dates: when Shakespeare began his writing career and when Queen Elizabeth I ascended to the throne.

1. Queen Elizabeth I ascended to the throne on January 15, 1558.

2. William Shakespeare is believed to have started his writing career around 1590, although the exact date is not known.

Now, we subtract the year Queen Elizabeth I ascended to the throne from the year Shakespeare is believed to have started his writing career.

1590 (approximate start of Shakespeare's career) - 1558 (start of Elizabeth's reign) = 32 years

So, when Shakespeare began his writing career, Queen Elizabeth I had been on the throne for approximately 32 years.