Queen Elizabeth's Legendary Life in Photographs
Queen Elizabeth's Legendary Life in Photographs
Over the course of her 96 years of life, Queen Elizabeth II became one of the most iconic people of the 20th century, earning the title of both the longest-serving, and longest-lived British monarch before her death in 2022. Her storied reign wasn't the only thing that made her legendary, though. Through her 70 years on the throne, she became known for her colorful wardrobe, her pet corgis, and her profound sense of duty, standing as a symbol of both British tradition and modern ideals. Keep scrolling for some of the most iconic images of the late monarch.
1926
The future King and Queen, George Duke of York and Elizabeth Duchess of York holding their first child, Princess Elizabeth, at her christening ceremony.
1928
A baby photo of Princess Elizabeth.
1929
Princess Elizabeth on the platform at King's Cross station about to depart with her grandparents for Christmas at Sandringham.
1931
Lilibet takes her dog for a walk.
1932
Princess Elizabeth arrives at the Royal Tournament at Olympia.
1933
Princess Margaret Rose and Princess Elizabeth pose at the door of the Welsh House, a miniature house presented to them by the people of Wales located on the grounds of the Royal Lodge, Windsor.
1934
Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and their mother Queen Elizabeth arrive at Olympia.
1935
Princess Elizabeth takes her horse out for a ride.
1936
Princess Elizabeth greets an officer.
1936
Princess Elizabeth with her uncle David—also known as King Edward VII—during the year of his reign and abdication.
1939
Princess Elizabeth and her younger sister holding their family dog Chu-Chu.
1937
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth with Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret dressed in full Coronation regalia on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the King's 1937 Coronation ceremony.
1938
Twelve-year-old Princess Elizabeth.
1940
A photo of Princess Elizabeth holding her corgi.
1940
Princess Elizabeth makes her first broadcast accompanied by her sister Princess Margaret.
1941
Queen Elizabeth and her daughters pose in the gardens of Windsor Castle.
1942
Princess Elizabeth talking to her father, King George VI, while he sorts through the Royal books in a study at Windsor Castle.
1942
Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth with their dogs outside the Royal Lodge.
1943
Princess Elizabeth with her mother arriving at the Royal College of Music.
1944
Princess Elizabeth writing at her desk in Windsor Castle.
1946
King George VI with his daughters Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret on the Royal Lodge grounds.
1947
Princess Elizabeth makes a broadcast from the gardens of Government House in Cape Town, South Africa on her 21st birthday.
1947
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day.
1948
Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth leaving Grosvenor Square, London.
1949
A candid photo of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip with their baby son, Prince Charles.
1950
Princess Elizabeth holds Princess Anne, who is wearing the Royal christening robe.
1951
The British Royal Family.
1952
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip stand outside Balmoral Castle with their children.
1952
The young Queen waved to onlookers as she made her way to the House of Lords to open the First Parliament of her reign.
1953
Queen Elizabeth II returning to Buckingham Palace after her Coronation in Westminster Abbey, London.
1953
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Coronation ceremony.
1953
A portrait of Elizabeth from the time of her coronation.
1954
Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret arrive at the Empire Cinema in London for the Royal Command Film Performance.
1954
Queen Elizabeth at a garden party in Sydney, Australia.
1955
Elegantly dressed, Queen Elizabeth arrives at a screening of To Catch a Thief at the Odeon Cinema.
1956
Queen Elizabeth II with Government minister Makaman Bida during her Commonwealth visit to Nigeria.
1956
Queen Elizabeth II shaking hands with Marilyn Monroe at a performance of The Battle of the River Plate at the Empire Theatre in Leicester Square, London.
1957
Queen Elizabeth presents the trophy to American tennis player Althea Gibson after she won the Women's Singles final at Wimbledon.
1958
Queen Elizabeth watching Prince Philip during a cricket match at Highclere Castle (better known as the set of Downton Abbey).
1958
An official portrait of the Queen and Prince Philip.
1959
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip with one of their corgis at Windsor Castle in Berkshire.
1960
Queen Elizabeth attends a film premiere.
1961
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy pose with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace.
1961
Queen Elizabeth films a horse race in Accra, Ghana.
1964
At a performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.
1965
Queen Elizabeth leaves Schloss Augustusburg in Bruhl, Germany after attending a state reception wearing a diamond bow brooch that once belonged to Queen Mary.
1966
During a royal visit to Nassau, Bahamas.
1967
Queen Elizabeth awarding Prince Philip and Prince Charles with trophies after a polo match.
1968
Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 1968.
1969
Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne at an event in Vienna, Austria.
1970
Queen Elizabeth is greeted by local children during her tour of Australia.
1971
Queen Elizabeth leaps ashore during a visit to Turkey.
1973
The Queen with Prince Philip at the Badminton Horse Trials.
1974
Queen Elizabeth arrives at Aberdeen Airport with her corgis to start her holiday in Balmoral, Scotland.
1975
Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Mexico.
1976
Queen Elizabeth attends a polo match at Windsor Great Park.
1977
Queen Elizabeth waves as she leaves Fiji during her royal tour.
1978
Queen Elizabeth laughing while attending the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
1979
The Queen stays warm in a red wool cape.
1980
Queen Elizabeth with the Queen Mother at Clarence House.
1981
The Prince and Princess of Wales pose on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day with the Queen and some of their bridesmaids.
1982
Queen Elizabeth takes a picture while visiting Tuvalu in the South Pacific.
1983
Queen Elizabeth touring Canada.
1984
The Queen greets the crowd in Kent.
1984
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles at a polo match in Windsor.
1985
The Queen.
1986
The Queen and Prince Philip visit the Great Wall of China.
1987
Members of the Royal family outside Clarence House during the Queen Mother's 87th birthday celebration in London.
1988
Queen Elizabeth arrives at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
1990
Queen Elizabeth holds a bundle of flowers.
1991
The Queen visits Washington, D.C.
1993
Attentding the Royal Windsor Horseshoe.
1994
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip waving to a crowd of veterans before attending a service for the 50th anniversary of D-Day.
1995
The Queen wearing the Imperial State Crown at the opening of Parliament in London.
1996
The Queen in Bedford.
1997
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Edward at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
1998
The Queen at the grounds of Windsor Castle.
1999
The Queen at a banquet in Marlow.
2000
Queen Elizabeth poses with Nelson Mandela at Buckingham Palace.
2001
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip waving to the crowds on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
2003
The Queen and Prince William are all smiles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping of the Colour.
2004
Visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, London.
2004
Her Majesty looked out at the crowds as she made her way to the State Opening of Parliament.
2005
The Queen arrives in Norfolk, England.
2007
Queen Elizabeth attends the State Opening of Parliament.
2009
Queen Elizabeth arrives to unveil a memorial to the Queen Mother in London.
2012
The Queen addressed both Houses of Parliament before the unveiling of a Diamond Jubilee stained glass window commissioned in honor of the Queen's 60th year on the throne.
2012
Queen Elizabeth and Duchess Catherine watch a fashion show at De Montfort University.
2013
Queen Elizabeth attends day one of Royal Ascot.
2015
The British Royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping of the Colour.
2016
Queen Elizabeth receives an award at the Thoroughbred Ridden Show Series Championship at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
2016
At the annual Chelsea Flower Show, the Queen took in a display in her honor.
2017
Queen Elizabeth attends the Sunday service at the church of St. Mary the Virgin in Fitcham.
2018
Queen Elizabeth shared a laugh with her granddaughter-in-law, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during Meghan's first official engagement with the Queen. The pair attended the opening of Mersey Gateway Bridge in Halton, Cheshire, England.
2018
Queen Elizabeth, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge all watched a flyby in honor of the Royal Air Force's 100th anniversary.
2018
Delivering her annual Christmas Day address, the Queen was photographed in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
2019
Wearing the Vladimir tiara with emeralds, Queen Elizabeth spoke with guests at a Buckingham Palace reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps.
2019
Traveling by carriage, the Queen ventured to the State Opening of Parliament at Westminster Palace. She wore diamonds and fur for the occasion.
2020
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the Queen awarded Captain Sir Thomas Moore with the insignia of Knight Bachelor, after he raised over ￡32 million for the National Health Services.
2020
The Queen rode Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell Pony, at her home in Windsor.
2021
Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, the Queen sat by herself during the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, who passed away in April.
2021
The Queen resumed her weekly in-person meetings with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in June for the first time since the star of the pandemic.
2021
After a year away, the Queen made her return to one of her favorite events, the annual Royal Windsor Horse Show—and drove herself there, of course.
2021
The Queen, in a neon green outfit, attended the Royal Windsor Cup polo match.
2021
The Queen taking in a socially distanced Trooping the Colour ceremony.
2022
Queen Elizabeth looking at Queen Victoria’s Autograph fan, alongside a display of memorabilia from previous jubilees, in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee.
2022
On the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne, the Queen cut a cake with a long knife.
2022
At 96, the Queen was all smiles as she made a rare appearance at her favorite annual event, the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
2022
Queen Elizabeth opened the "Elizabeth Line," named after her, at London's Paddington Station, wearing a bright yellow outfit in May.
2022
The Queen appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the 2022 Trooping the Colour parade, kicking off the weekend of Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
2022
The Platinum Jubilee festivities ended with a surprise appearance by Queen Elizabeth on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
2022
On September 6, the Queen appointed her 15th Prime Minister when she met with Liz Truss at Balmoral. It was the monarch's final major act of state.
2022
Ahead of the Queen's funeral, a new photo of Her Majesty was released.
The longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II lived her entire life in the spotlight. Over the years, she became known for her colorful wardrobe, her pet corgis, and her profound sense of duty.