Queen Elizabeth: A look back at her life in pictures

At the Queen’s passing, we look back at her incredible life and reign – as both a royal leader and beloved daughter, mother and grandmother.

Queen Elizabeth’s life in pictures.

She was Britain’s longest-serving monarch, yet was never born to be sovereign. Here, we take a look back at Queen Elizabeth II’s life in pictures.

A Queen is born

Born on April 21, 1926 as Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, the Princess of York.

Pictured here as a month-old baby in May 1926 with her mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Picture: Speaight/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1927: Posing for one of the first of many portraits. Picture: Getty Images

1933: Then Princess Elizabeth, she is seen here with her younger sister Margaret. Picture: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Princess Elizabeth aged three in 1929. Picture: The Print Collector/Getty Images

1935: Princess Elizabeth aged around nine. Picture: Keystone/Getty Images

1933: George VI with his daughters Elizabeth (standing) and Princess Margaret along with the Queen Mother (then known as Queen Elizabeth) and their pet dogs outside Y Bwthyn Bach (The Little House) the gift of the Welsh people to Princess Elizabeth. Picture: Universal History Archive/Getty Images

A keen horse rider, Princess Elizabeth is seen riding her pony in 1934. Picture: Universal History Archive/Getty Images

Princess Elizabeth’s teenage years

Princesses Elizabeth (left) and Margaret with their dog Chung at the Royal Lodge at Windsor. Picture: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

April 1940: Princess Elizabeth out riding at the Royal Lodge, Windsor. Picture: Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images

Princess Margaret, left, and Princess Elizabeth, right, broadcasting to the children of the empire on October 13, 1940. Picture: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

1942: Princess Elizabeth, sitting for a portrait in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, shows her Royal Highness wearing the insignia of the Grenadier Guards. Picture: Alamy

1943: Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret dress up for a royal pantomime production of Aladdin at Windsor Castle. Picture: Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images

1944: Princess Elizabeth wearing her Sea Rangers uniform. Picture: Getty Images

A 16-year-old Princess Elizabeth registers for war service under the Ministry of Labour’s Youth Registration Scheme, April 25, 1942. Picture: Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Elizabeth becomes a mother

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II pictured when she was Princess Elizabeth with her first baby Prince Charles at his christening in 1948. Picture: Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Prince Charles pictured on his first birthday with his mother, still known as Princess Elizabeth. Picture: PA Images via Getty Images

1954: Charles, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Anne. Picture: Bettman/Getty Images

1952: Queen Elizabeth watches her son Prince Charles driving in a toy car on the grounds of Balmoral Castle. Picture: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

1951: Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth pose for a photo with a playful Princess Anne and Prince Charles. Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

A Princess becomes a Queen

1953: A newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on the day of the coronation at Buckingham Palace. Picture: The Print Collector/Getty Images

The Queen is seated here in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace after her coronation in Westminster Abbey. Picture: Keystone Press Agency/Alamy

Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after her coronation ceremony with Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Philip. Picture: Fox Photos/Getty Images

1953: A stunning portrait of Queen Elizabeth II wearing the crown of the kings and queens of England for her coronation. Picture: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II walks down the nave in Westminster Abbey after being crowned. Picture: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

One of many official portraits of the Queen during her coronation in 1953. Picture: Getty Images

The Queen and her Prince

July 10, 1947: These happy photos show Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, the former Prince Philip of Greece, at Buckingham Palace for their official engagement photo. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on their wedding day in 1957. Picture Hulton Archive/Getty Images

November 24, 1947: Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip enjoying a walk during their honeymoon at Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire. Picture: Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pose for a portrait at home in Buckingham Palace in December 1958. Picture: Donald McKague/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Prince Philip and the Queen at Buckingham Palace in December 1958. Picture: Donald McKague/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip dance at a state ball in Valetta, Malta. Picture: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

2016: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during ‘The Patron's Lunch’ celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday. Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images

Having a ball at the Braemar Highland Games in 2011. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

Waved on by fans lining the street. Picture: Arthur Edwards – WPA Pool/Getty Images

2007: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip revisit Broadlands, to mark their diamond wedding anniversary on November 20, 2007. Picture: Tim Graham/Getty Images

Being a mum and the Queen

1957: Queen Elizabeth II driving her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor, watched by a group of onlookers. Picture: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

1960: The Queen, Prince Philip and children Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew as a baby in the grounds of Balmoral Castle, September 9, 1960. Picture: AFP

1969: Queen Elizabeth II talking with Prince Charles and Prince Edward riding on a go-kart at Windsor Castle. Picture: Central Press Photo Ltd/AFP

1969: Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Charles at Windsor Castle, June 1969. Picture: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1969: Queen Elizabeth II lunches with Prince Philip and their children Princess Anne and Prince Charles at Windsor Castle. A camera (left) is set up to film for Richard Cawston’s BBC documentary ‘Royal Family’. Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1969: Queen Elizabeth II holds the hands of her 20-year-old son Prince Charles during his investiture as Prince of Wales on July 11, 1969, at Caernarfon Castle in Wales. Picture: AFP

1981: Prince Charles and his then fiancee Lady Diana Spencer with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, March 7, 1981. Picture: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1981: Official family portrait taken at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Picture: AFP

2012: The Queen and Prince Charles laugh while watching the children’s sack race at the 2012 Braemar Highland Gathering in Braemar, Scotland. Picture: Indigo/Getty Images

2012: Prince Charles kisses his mother’s hand on stage during a Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace. Picture: Leon Neal/AFP

Queen Elizabeth’s bold fashion choices

Never shy of a pop of colour, Queen Elizabeth favoured bold tones when it came to her fashion.

A Queen and her corgis

Princess Elizabeth holds one of her many beloved corgis in 1936. Picture: Lisa Sheridan/Getty Images

June 22, 1940: Princesses Elizabeth (left) and Margaret study while one of their corgis sleeps at their feet in a drawing room at Windsor Castle, Berkshire. Picture: Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II of England at Balmoral Castle with one of her corgis in 1952. Picture: Getty Images

The Queen featured on the cover of Vanity Fair with her beloved corgis Willow and Holly – and two dorgis, Candy and Vulcan – in honour of her 90th birthday in 2016.

Photographed by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, the Queen’s adorable companions featured in the photo shoot at Her Majesty’s request.

Charming the world’s leaders

1961: President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy pay a visit to the royal family in England. Picture: Bettmann/Getty Images

1983: President Reagan laughs following a joke by Queen Elizabeth II, who commented on the lousy California weather she has experienced since her arrival in the United States. Picture: Bettmann/Getty Images

Then-US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during a dinner at Winfield House in London in 2011. Picture: Jewel Samad/AFP

Then US President Donald Trump and Queen Elizabeth II make a toast during a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on June 3, 2019. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana moments

The Princess of Wales and the Queen attend the Opening of Parliament in London, November 1982. Picture: Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

1981: The Queen is seen on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony while Prince Charles and Diana kiss after their wedding. Picture: Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Princess Diana joins the royal family at the Braemar Games in September 1982. Picture: Supplied

A familiar sight: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Diana Princess of Wales, Prince William and Prince Harry stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour. Picture: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Diana, Princess of Wales, Prince William, Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret and Prince Charles at Trooping the Colour in June 1989. Picture: John Shelley Collection/Avalon/Getty Images

The official portrait of the royal family on the day of Prince William’s confirmation at Windsor Palace, on March 9, 1997. Featured in the photo are William, Prince Harry, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Queen, King Constantine, Lady Susan Hussey, Princess Alexandra, the Duchess of Westminster and Lord Romsey. Picture: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Queen Elizabeth’s tours of Australia

1963: A smiling Queen Elizabeth visits Fremantle in Western Australia. Picture: News Corp Australia

Attending a ball during her 1954 tour of Australia. Picture: Library Nwn

1973: Attending the opening of the Sydney Opera House. Picture: News Corp Australia

1980: A jubilant Queen Elizabeth greets crowds. Picture: News Corp Australia

Queen Elizabeth II chats with jockeys Ron Quinton and Hilton Cope before the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick race course near Sydney, during her tour of Australia, 1st April 1970. Picture: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

2011: Queen Elizabeth II receives flowers from the crowd during her visit to Federation Square in downtown Melbourne on October 26, 2011. Picture: ALEX COPPEL / POOL / AFP

1992: Queen Elizabeth II in Adelaide during royal tour vist to Australia 1992. Picture: News Corp Australia

Queen Elizabeth II taking photograph at Lindsay Park during her 1977 royal visit to South Australia.

2000: Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister John Howard at Yarralumla in Canberra where she was presented a gift from Australia, The Banksias, a botanic reference book. Picture: News Corp Australia

2011: Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sits on the stage overlooking the crowd during a garden party at Government House in Perth, Western Australia, on October 27, 2011. Picture: Lincoln Baker/AFP

Queen Elizabeth’s life as a grandmother and great-grandmother

The Queen with grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry in the Royal Box at Guards Polo Club, Smiths Lawn, Windsor. Picture: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

Zara Phillips and Prince William with their grandmother, the Queen at Sandringham. Picture: Georges De Keerle/Getty Images

2003: Three generations of the British royal family – Queen Elizabeth II sits in front of the Prince of Wales, Prince William and the Duke of Edinburgh as they pose at Clarence House before a dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation on June 2, 2003. Picture: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

2008: The Queen pictured with Camilla and Prince Harry as they leave St George's Chapel in Windsor on May 17, 2008 after the marriage of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly. Picture: Ian McIlgorm/AFP

2019: Queen Elizabeth II is shown around Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019. Picture: Geoff Pugh – WPA Pool/Getty Images

2015: Prince George speaks to his great grandmother the Queen as they leave Princess Charlotte’s christening at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Picture: Chris Jackson/AFP

2012: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge laughs as the Queen gestures while watching a children’s sports event on their visit to Vernon Park in Nottingham, central England, on June 13, 2012. Picture: Phil Noble/AFP

2017: Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge look out from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Colour parade on June 17, 2017. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Queen presents grandson Prince Harry with a gift at a polo event in Windsor. Picture: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

2018: Queen Elizabeth II sits and laughs with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex during a ceremony to open the new Mersey Gateway Bridge on June 14, 2018. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

2019: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the Queen and Prince Philip. Picture: Chris Allerton/SussexRoyal via Getty Images

2018: Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge watch a fly-past to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force on July 10, 2018. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

2019: The Queen joins granddaughter Princess Beatrice at Ascot. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Not many people can get away with photobombing Her Royal Highness. Princess Eugenie is pictured with Queen Elizabeth at Ascot in 2013. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

2022: Queen Elizabeth II with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations. Picture: Hannah McKay/AFP

Perhaps one of the greatest photos of the Queen that’s ever been taken. Prince Louis shows his appreciation for the loud planes overhead alongside a smirking Queen Elizabeth at the 2022 Trooping the Colour parade. Picture: Daniel Leal/AFP

Queen Elizabeth’s later years

2017: Surrounded by portraits of her family, Queen Elizabeth smiles as she records her Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth at Buckingham Palace, London. Picture: John Stillwell/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II receives the winners cup at The Royal Windsor Horse Show at Home Park on May 13, 2022. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth seen here turning on the lights as part of Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 2, 2022. Picture: Steve Parsons-Pool/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II and Paddington Bear having cream tea at Buckingham Palace, taken from a film that was shown at the BBC Platinum Party at the Palace on June 4, 2022. Picture: AFP

The Queen in February 2022 smiles as she sits in Sandringham House in Norfolk. Picture: Chris Jackson/Buckingham Palace/AFP

Queen Elizabeth II pictured standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Queen's Birthday Parade on June 2, 2022. Picture: Jonathan Brady/AFP