70 rare photos of HM Queen Elizabeth II that showcase her extraordinary life
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at the age of 96. She holds the distinction of being the longest serving monarch on the British throne—beating her grandmother Queen Victoria’s reign by nearly a decade. Born in 1926, the Queen travelled often with her husband, the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, by her side.
The British monarch, who celebrated 70 years on the throne during summer 2022 with her Platinum Jubilee, lived in the public eye since birth, even though her family could never imagine they would become the future of the British monarchy. When the young Elizabeth's uncle, Edward VIII, abdicated the throne in 1936, her father became King George VI and took on the responsibilities of the kingdom, which put princess Elizabeth, then age 10, in line for the throne. When King George passed away on February 6, 1952, at age 56, she officially became Queen Elizabeth II. She was 25.
Below, a glimpse at Queen Elizabeth II’s extraordinary life in photos, many rarely seen, documenting her childhood in London, her coronation, her wedding, Platinum Jubilee, and more.
This story originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.
Hulton Deutsch/Getty Images1926
The Duke and Duchess of York, the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England, with their newborn daughter Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II of England.
Central Press/Getty Images1928
The young Princess Elizabeth, later to reign as Queen Elizabeth II.
brandstaetter images/Getty Images1930
The future queen visiting a zoo.
Culture Club/Getty Images1932
Princess Elizabeth riding her new tricycle in the park with her nanny.
Culture Club/Getty Images1933
Princess Elizabeth, 6 (right) and Princess Margaret (left) playing in 1933.
- Bettmann
1935
Elizabeth's love for horses and horse races began at an early age. She was an avid rider throughout her childhood and into adulthood.
Lisa Sheridan/Getty Images1936
Princess Elizabeth with two corgi dogs at her home at 145 Piccadilly, London.
Lisa Sheridan/Getty Images1936
Elizabeth pictured with her pets, corgis Jane and Dookie, at age 10. The monarch went on to adopt more and more corgis later in life once she was a sitting queen.
Hulton Deutsch/Getty Images1940
Princess Elizabeth walking a Corgi in London's Hyde Park.
Lisa Sheridan/Getty Images1941
A young Princess Elizabeth at Windsor Castle.
Fox Photos/Getty Images1945
Princess Elizabeth celebrating V-day in Europe.
Lisa Sheridan/Getty Images1946
George VI with the Royal Family, at the Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle.
J. A. Hampton/Getty Images1946
Queen Elizabeth II at a parade wearing full military uniform.
Bettmann1947
Princess Elizabeth plays tag with midshipmen on board the HMS Vanguard.
PA Images/Getty Images1947
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh leaving Westminster Abbey after their marriage ceremony.
Bettmann/Getty Images1949
Princess Elizabeth and her son Charles are photographed together to honor her firstborn son’s birthday.
Mirrorpix/Getty Images1951
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh square-danced at a cowboy dress party during the royal tour of Canada.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images1951
Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh visit the Mediterranean island of Malta.
PA Images/Getty Images1951
Princess Elizabeth arrives for the premiere of The Lady With the Lamp in London.
- Bettmann
1951
Princess Elizabeth represents her father, the King, at the Trooping the Colour ceremony outside of Buckingham Palace.
Universal History Archive/Getty Images1952
Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Ministers of the Commonwealth. She is shown here with Mr. S. G. Holland (New Zealand), Sir Winston Churchill, Mr. Robert Menzies (Australia), and Mr. St. Laurent (Canada).
ullstein bild Dtl./Getty Images1952
Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip.
- Bettmann
1953
Queen Elizabeth poses for the cameras minutes after her coronation on June 2, 1953.
Fox Photos/Getty Images1954
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave a banquet during their Commonwealth visit to Australia.
Fox Photos/Getty Images1954
Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Government House, Melbourne, during her tour of Australia.
-/Getty Images1955
Queen Elizabeth II waves as the Canadian Pacific liner Empress of Britain takes the water in Glasgow.
Monty Fresco/Getty Images1955
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the royal performance of the film To Catch a Thief at the Odeon Cinema.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images1956
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles at Windsor Great Park during a polo match.
Mirrorpix/Getty Images1957
Queen Elizabeth II greets guests including Sophia Loren at the Royal Film Show.
Fox Photos/Getty Images1958
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at a formal event during a royal tour of the Netherlands.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images1958
Queen Elizabeth II poses for a portrait at home in Buckingham Palace.
- Bettmann
1960
Baby Prince Andrew perches on Prince Philip's lap during a picnic on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. Also pictured are Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne.
Fox Photos/Getty Images1961
Queen Elizabeth II leaves the Vatican in Italy after an official visit to Pope John XXIII, accompanied by Prince Philip.
Hulton Deutsch/Getty Images1961
The queen outside the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore during her 1961 state visit to Pakistan.
- PhotoQuest/Getty Images
1961
The Queen and Prince Phillip welcomed then American president John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy to Buckingham Palace.
Bettmann1964
Queen Elizabeth II arrives at the opening of the Confederation Memorial Building in Canada.
Central Press/Getty Images1964
Queen Elizabeth II at a performance at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
BettmannUndated
Queen Elizabeth II, dressed for a formal occasion.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images1965
Queen Elizabeth II at Liverpool Street Station with two of her pet corgis.
picture alliance/Getty Images1965
Queen Elizabeth II gives a speech in front of the Schöneberg Town Hall in Berlin.
Anwar Hussein/Getty Images1969
The queen bestows the title of Prince of Wales on her eldest son, Prince Charles, at Caernarvon Castle.
- Bettmann
1970
The Queen's love of Corgis has followed her throughout her life.
Tim Graham/Getty Images1973
The queen attending attending a premiere in the West End district in London.
Serge Lemoine/Getty Images1975
Queen Elizabeth II with a group of local children during her state visit to Mexico.
Anwar Hussein/Getty Images1976
Queen Elizabeth II with President Urho Kekkonen during her state visit to Finland in Helsinki.
Dirck Halstead/Getty Images1976
President Gerald Ford dances with Queen Elizabeth II during a White House State Dinner.
Toronto Star Archives/Getty Images1976
During a royal tour of Candada.
Serge Lemoine/Getty Images1979
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on safari during their state visit to Zambia.
Tim Graham/Getty Images1979
Queen Elizabeth II is seen talking with the Emir of Bahrain during a visit on her Gulf Tour.
Tim Graham/Getty Images1980
The queen waits for King Hassan II of Morocco during a royal visit.
Anwar Hussein/Getty Images1983
Queen Elizabeth II visits the Institute of Oceanography in San Diego during a visit to the US.
Erin Combs/Getty Images1984
Regal in Canada.
ullstein bild/Getty Images1987
Queen Elizabeth II on a state visit to Berlin and West Berlin.
Anwar Hussein/Getty Images1988
Queen Elizabeth II walks in riding gear as she visits the 1988 Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Wally McNamee/Getty Images1991
US President George Bush, Queen Elizabeth II and First Lady Barbara Bush shake hands with Mike Gallego, Rick Honeycutt, and Jose Canseco of the Oakland Athletics at game between the Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles.
Tim Graham/Getty Images1991
The queen at the Royal Winsdor Horse Show in 1991.
Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images1991
Queen Elizabeth II during a reception in the White House’s Rose Garden in Washington, DC.
Tim Graham/Getty Images1998
The queen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images1999
Queen Elizabeth II attends the Royal Variety Performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Tim Graham/Getty Images2003
The queen leaving King Edward VII Hospital after a knee surgery.
KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/Getty Images2003
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip meet with former South African president Nelson Mandela during a reception at Buckingham Palace in honor of the Rhodes Trust.
Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images2005
The queen watches a parade of Aston Martin cars at Windsor Castle on St. George’s Day.
Tim Graham/Getty Images2006
The queen arrives at a party and dinner during the 2006 Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images2007
Queen Elizabeth II visits the new National Tennis Centre, Roehampton in London.
WPA Pool/Getty Images2009
Queen Elizabeth II arrives to unveil a memorial to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
WPA Pool/Getty Images2013
Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she leaves the State Opening of Parliament at the House of Lords.
WPA Pool/Getty Images2017
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip observe a minute’s silence in honor of the victims of the attack at Manchester Arena at the start of a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
WPA Pool/Getty Images2018
Queen Elizabeth II sits next to Caroline Rush (left), chief executive of the British Fashion Council, and Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour as they view Richard Quinn’s runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images2022
Queen Elizabeth II waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London. The event celebrated her 70-year-long reign.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images2022
Queen Elizabeth II attends an Armed Forces Act of Loyalty Parade in the gardens of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland.
