Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926.
April 21, 1926
Credit: Cover Images
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York.
Elizabeth Alexander Mary
Credit: Cover Images
Elizabeth Alexander Mary was christened in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace on May 29. King George V was present at the event.
Elizabeth Alexander Mary
Credit: Cover Images
She was named Elizabeth after her mother, Alexandra after her paternal great-grandmother and Mary after her paternal grandmother.
Heir Apparent
Credit: Cover Images
There was no indication that she would ever become queen. Her uncle, King Edward VIII, chose to abdicate in 1936, making her father, George VI, the new king of England, and Elizabeth, the heir apparent.
Margaret
Credit: Cover Images
Elizabeth's only sister, Princess Margaret, was born in 1930. Both princesses were educated at home under the supervision of their mother and governess.
The Close Sisters
Credit: Cover Images
Elizabeth and her sister Margaret were always very close to each other.
Succession to the Throne
Credit: Cover Images
At the time, Elizabeth was third in line to the English throne, behind King Edward VIII, and her father, the Duke of York.
Love of Horses
Credit: Cover Images
Young Elizabeth learned to ride at an early age. She developed a lifelong passion for horseback riding.
Classical Education
Credit: Cover Images
Elizabeth and Margaret's education focused on history, languages, literature and music.
Coronation of George VI
Credit: Cover Images
King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936. The new king, Elizabeth's father, was named George VI. Young Elizabeth attends her father's coronation.
Philip Mountbatten
Credit: Cover Images
In 1947, Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, former Prince of Greece and Denmark.
Queen
Credit: Cover Images
Upon the death of Elizabeth's father in 1952, the princess was crowned queen at Westminster Abbey in London on June 2.
25 years old
Credit: Cover Images
The young Queen was only 25 years old when she ascended the throne of England and the independent Commonwealth countries.
Royal couple
Credit: Cover Images
The royal couple of Elizabeth and Philip will remain together for 73 years, until the death of the prince in 2021.
Canada
Credit: Cover Images
Canada being a Commonwealth country, Elizabeth is the Queen of the country. She is seen here on the telephone in December 1961. The Queen is speaking to Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker as she inaugurates the transatlantic telephone cable system by making the first call to Ottawa.
Montreal Olympics
Credit: Cover Images
Elizabeth II made 22 official trips to Canada during her reign. She is seen here in Montreal as she opened the 1976 Olympic Games.
Justin Trudeau
Credit: Cover Images
Most recently, she met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Ceremonies
Credit: Cover Images
The Queen attends many ceremonies throughout the year. This time it is the color ceremony that takes place on the official birthday of Her Majesty, in London.
Meetings
Credit: Cover Images
She meets many political figures in a year. The Prime Minister of England is one of the most frequent visitors.
Private Hearings
Credit: Cover Images
During the pandemic, the Queen was forced to hold virtual private audiences with her subjects.
Rallying Speeches
Credit: Cover Images
In April 2020, as the pandemic was in full swing, the Queen's speech on the coronavirus was broadcast at Piccadilly Circus as the UK lockdown continued.
The succession
Credit: Cover Images
The Queen's succession is assured. Here we see three future kings of England, with Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.
Future Queens
Credit: Cover Images
The queen is also close to the future queens who will succeed her. She is seen here with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
Prince Philip
Credit: Cover Images
Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip will have reigned together until the duke's retirement in 2017. He will have participated in over 22,000 official public engagements.
The Duke of Edinburgh
Credit: Cover Images
The Duke of Edinburgh died on April 9, 2021 at the age of 99. On April 17, 2021, the Queen bids farewell to her husband at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Prince Charles
Credit: Cover Images
Weakened by illness, Elizabeth is giving Prince Charles more and more of the day-to-day running of the monarchy.
Elizabeth Line
Credit: Cover Images
To mark its anniversary, London has a new subway system. Queen Elizabeth II visits Paddington Station to mark the completion of the Crossrail project in May 2022. She now uses a cane to get around.
70 years of reign
Credit: Cover Images
Elizabeth II marks 70 years on the throne on June 2, 2022.
Platinum Jubilee
Credit: Cover Images
The Royal Mint has produced the largest coin ever made to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The coin is a one-of-a-kind gold piece weighing 15 kilograms.
Elizabeth II
Credit: Cover Images
On September 8, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. She was 96 years old. She reigned for 70 years, the longest reign in British history.
Meeting with the new Prime Minister
Credit: Cover Images
On September 9, 2022, the Queen met with the new Prime Minister of England Liz Truss. A few hours later, her health will be of great concern to her doctors, her family and the world.