A look back at the life and service of Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96 after an astounding 70-year reign. It’s difficult to choose just a handful of photographs to illustrate such a long and illustrious life, so we’ve selected a few from her major milestones and family events.
Princess Elizabeth at the age of 2 in 1928.
Princess Elizabeth (right) and her younger sister Princess Margaret (left) taken in 1933.
The royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in 1937, after the coronation of King George VI.
Princess Elizabeth marries Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.
The royal couple with their children, Prince Charles (L) and Princess Anne (R), circa 1951
Queen Elizabeth II steps down from the plane on her at arrival at London
Airport after being recalled from Kenya following the death of her
father King George VI in 1952.
Queen Elizabeth II makes her first ever Christmas broadcast to the nation from Sandringham House in 1952.
Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day, June 2, 1953.
From left to right: Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, in his
pram, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince
Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, taken in 1965.
Queen Elizabeth II with one of her corgis.
The Trooping the Color ceremony in 1971.
Queen Elizabeth II during a walkabout to commemorate her Silver Jubilee in 1977.
Princess Diana (center) holds Prince William after his christening in
1982, flanked by the queen (right) and the queen mother (left)
The queen making her “annus horribilis” speech in 1992, the year in
which Princess Diana’s tell-all memoir was published and a fire broke
out at Windsor Castle.
Queen Elizabeth II attends the funeral of Diana, princess of Wales, in 1997.
The queen mother waves to the people alongside Queen Elizabeth II on the
balcony of Buckingham Palace on her 100th birthday, on August 4, 2000.
Queen Elizabeth II rides in the Golden State Carriage during her Golden Jubilee parade on June 4, 2002.
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, mark their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007.
The queen and other members of the royal family attend Prince William
and his bride Catherine Middleton’s wedding ceremony at Westminster
Abbey on April 29, 2011.
Queen Elizabeth II leaves St Paul’s Cathedral after a national service of thanksgiving for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Queen Elizabeth II recorded a Christmas Day message every year. This
picture was taken after filming in 2018 in the White Drawing Room at
Buckingham Palace.
Queen Elizabeth II sits alone as pall bearers place Prince Philip, duke
of Edinburgh’s coffin during his funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor
Castle on April 17, 2021.
Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during
the Trooping the Color parade for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in
2022.
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince George of
Cambridge stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum
Jubilee celebrations in 2022.