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Queen Elizabeth II: A life in pictures

Annie Leibovitz Queen Elizabeth II by Annie Leibovitz, 2007Annie Leibovitz

Queen Elizabeth II lived her life in the spotlight. We look back at her reign, from baby to heir to Britain's longest-reigning monarch.

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PA Media The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) with her husband, King George VI (then the Duke of York), and their daughter Queen Elizabeth II (then Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor) at her christening in May 1926PA Media
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on 21 April 1926, in a house off Berkeley Square in London. She was the first child of Albert, Duke of York - the second son of George V - and his wife, the former Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
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Getty Images HRH Princess Elizabeth, circa 1929 aged about three years old. Artist Marcus Adams.Getty Images
In her early years, the throne was not her destiny
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Getty Images Princess Elizabeth being greeted by an official, Windsor.Getty Images
However, she was said to have shown a sense of responsibility from a very young age
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Getty Images Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth, the Royal sisters, as children, 1930s.Getty Images
Both Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret Rose, who was born in 1930, were educated at home
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Getty Images The Royal Family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the coronation of King George VI of England. Shown are (from left to right): Queen Elizabeth; Princess Elizabeth; Queen Mary the Queen Mother; Princess Margaret; and King George VI.Getty Images
Following the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936, Elizabeth's father became King George VI and she became heir
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Topical Press Agency / Getty Images Princess Elizabeth (right) and Princess Margaret during a wartime broadcast for Children's Hour on the BBCTopical Press Agency / Getty Images
During World War Two, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret were evacuated to Windsor. This picture shows them broadcasting to the nation for Children's Hour on the BBC
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AFP Princess Elizabeth changing the wheel of a military vehicle during World War Two, in an unknown location. 1940sAFP
The young princess briefly joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) towards the end of the war, learning to drive and service a lorry
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Bert Hardy / Getty Images Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Philip Mountbatten (later Prince Philip) make their way down the aisle of Westminster Abbey, London, on their wedding day, 20th November 1947.Bert Hardy / Getty Images
In 1947 she married a distant cousin, Philip Mountbatten, who became Duke of Edinburgh
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PA Media Princess Elizabeth holds her son Prince Charles after his Christening ceremony in Buckingham Palace, 1948PA Media
Their first child, Charles (pictured), was born in 1948, followed by a sister, Anne, who arrived in 1950
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth hold on to their hats as they arrive at Westminster Abbey to attend the wedding of Lady Caroline Montagu-Douglas-Scott to Mr Ian Hedworth GilmourPA Media
Elizabeth remained very close to her mother throughout her life. They are pictured here in 1951 attending a wedding
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PA Media Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh pause on the rustic bridge in the grounds of the Royal Lodge, Sagana, their wedding present from the people of Kenya.PA Media
In January 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set off on an overseas tour in place of her father, who had been ill. The King died in his sleep just days later
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Getty Images The Queen arrives back in Britain from Nairobi following the death of her father George VI, and is met by the politicians (second l to r) Lord Woolton, Anthony Eden, Clement Atlee and Winston Churchill.Getty Images
Elizabeth returned home immediately. The new Queen was just 25 years old
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PA Media Queen Mary (centre) watches as the body of her son, George VI, is brought to Westminster Hall, London, for the lying-in-state. By her side, the Queen Mother, right, her eyes closed in grief. Queen Elizabeth II, veiled, stands behind her grandmother.PA Media
First came the King's funeral. Here Queen Mary, his mother, watches as the body of George VI is brought to Westminster Hall, London, for the lying-in-state. Queen Elizabeth stands behind her grandmother, and the Queen Mother is on the right
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Universal History Archive Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation. 1953.Universal History Archive
Then, in June 1953, Elizabeth was crowned at Westminster Abbey
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh make their appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony and wave to the cheering crowds around the gates.PA Media
Following the coronation, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh made an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony and waved to the cheering crowds
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Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II, ascending the Grand Staircase at the Opera in Paris during a state visit to the French capital, 8 April 1957. The image is a montage of 15 separate pictures.Getty Images
Although Britain was still enduring post-war austerity, some commentators described the coronation as the dawn of a new Elizabethan age. Here, Queen Elizabeth II ascends the Grand Staircase at the Opera in Paris, France
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PA Media The Queen seen on a television screen as she concludes what became her traditional Christmas day broadcast to her people, which was televised in 1957 for the first time and carried by both the BBC and ITV.PA Media
In 1957, the Queen made the first of many televised Christmas Day broadcasts to the nation
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PA Media A Union Jack planted in the garden caught the Queen's attention, but she is the object of the neighbours' gaze. They watched as she arrived to visit the home of Mr and Mrs Eddie Hammond at Crawley New Town, Sussex after opening Gatwick Airport. 1958PA Media
British society and attitudes to the monarchy were changing and the term "the Monarchy" was gradually replaced by "the Royal Family". The Queen is the object of the neighbours' gaze while visiting the home of Mr and Mrs Eddie Hammond at Crawley New Town, Sussex in 1958
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II and her daughter Princess Anne at Frogmore, Windsor Castle, 1959PA Media
Between official engagements Elizabeth spent time with her family - here with her daughter Princess Anne at Frogmore, Windsor Castle
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Mirrorpix / Getty Images England captain Bobby Moore holds the Jules Rimet Trophy, collected from the Queen, after leading his team to a 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup Final that went to extra time at Wembley, LondonMirrorpix / Getty Images
In 1966, at Wembley, the Queen presented the Jules Rimet Trophy to England captain Bobby Moore after he led his team to a 4-2 World Cup final victory over West Germany
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Getty Images The Queen and Prince Philip visiting Aberfan. 29 October 1966.Getty Images
On 29 October 1966, the Queen visited the Welsh village of Aberfan, eight days after a coal tip landslide engulfed Pantglas Junior School killing 144 people, 116 of them children. The Queen was visibly moved and it remains one of the most emotive moments of her reign
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Mirrorpix / Getty Images BBC & ITV co-production, the 'Royal Family' was first transmitted on 21 June 1969. The documentary gave audiences an unprecedented view of a year in the private and public life of the Queen and her family. The 110-minute film was shown with a two-minute tea break interval, and was watched by 23 million people.Mirrorpix / Getty Images
In 1969, the documentary Royal Family was first broadcast. It gave audiences an unprecedented view of a year in the private and public life of the Queen and her family
PA Media Queen Elizabeth II formally invests her son Prince Charles with the Coronet of the Prince of Wales during a ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in CardiffPA Media
The Queen formally invested her son Prince Charles with the Coronet of the Prince of Wales during a ceremony at Caernarfon Castle. He took on the title when he was nine, but the Queen insisted the ceremony should wait until he fully understood its significance
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Lichfield via Getty Images Queen on board HMY Britannia in March 1972Lichfield via Getty Images
In 1972 the Queen was pictured on board HMY Britannia as part of series of photographs taken for use during her Silver Wedding Celebrations.
PA Media The Queen, sitting on a grassy bank with the corgis, at Virginia Water to watch competitors, including Prince Philip in the Marathon of the European Driving Championship, part of the Royal Windsor Horse Show, 1973PA Media
Throughout her reign the Queen has been pictured with corgis at her side. The Royal Family's ties with the breed began when the future George VI bought a corgi called Dookie for his daughters in 1933
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II on a walkabout in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great BritainPA Media
In 1977 the country celebrated the Queen's Silver Jubilee, marking 25 years on the throne. The Queen was met by enthusiastic crowds as she toured the country
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II watches bathers in a pool at Parade Gardens, Bath, during her Silver Jubilee tour of Great Britain.PA Media
Her Majesty visited 36 counties over 10 weeks - including Avon, where she observed people making the most of the summer weather. She also travelled 56,000 miles around the world in celebration
PA Media Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh wave as Concorde flies by the Royal Yacht Britannia as the royal couple neared BarbadosPA Media
The Queen and the duke were on hand to wave as Concorde flew low past by the Royal Yacht Britannia as the royal couple neared Barbados
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II, wearing a cloak of brown kiwi feathers, with Maori warriors at Rugby Park, Gisborne, when she and the Duke of Edinburgh received a New Zealand Maori welcome at the opening of the Royal New Zealand Polynesian Festival.PA Media
Year by year, the Queen's public duties continued. Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh received a New Zealand Maori welcome at the opening of the Royal New Zealand Polynesian Festival
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PA Media The flag-draped coffin of Lord Mountbatten rests on a catafalque during the funeral service in Westminster Abbey. Royal mourners (l-r) Queen Elizabeth II, her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and the Prince of Wales, 5 September 1979PA Media
In August 1979, Prince Philip's uncle and a cousin of the Queen, Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, was killed by an IRA bomb while on his boat in Ireland. As well as being a close family member, Lord Mountbatten had held many senior military positions, and his funeral was held in Westminster Abbey
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Getty Images Prince Charles And Princess Diana kissing on The balcony of Buckingham Palace, 29 July 1981. They are surrounded by their bridesmaids and pageboys as well as Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Edward and the Queen Mother.Getty Images
In 1981, Elizabeth's eldest son Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. Charles and Diana had two sons, William and Harry, before divorcing. Diana died in a car accident in Paris in 1997
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Getty Images The Queen is escorted by the chief fire officer around the grounds of Windsor Castle as fire fighters battle a fire, 20 November 1992.Getty Images
During her Christmas speech the Queen described 1992 as her "annus horribilis", expressing sorrow at a year which saw the break-up of three of her children's marriages and a fire at Windsor Castle
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David Cooper/Alamy HM Queen Elizabeth II fires a rifle during a visit to the Army rifle association at Bisley, England July 1993David Cooper/Alamy
Public opinion was against the government paying for repairs to the castle. The monarchy was on the defensive, and Buckingham Palace was opened to visitors in order to raise the funds. The Queen fired the last shot on a standard SA80 rifle with the Army Rifle Association at Bisley
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PA Media Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh view the floral tributes to Diana, Princess of Wales, at Buckingham Palace, 1997PA Media
After the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997, the Queen faced criticism for not appearing in public. Eventually she viewed tributes outside Buckingham Palace and made a live broadcast to the nation
PA Media The Queen joined Mrs Susan McCarron (front left ) her ten-year-old son, James and Housing Manager Liz McGinniss for tea in their home in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow. 7 July 1999.PA Media
The Queen joined Mrs Susan McCarron for tea in her home in the Castlemilk area of Glasgow, as the Royal Family experimented with a more intimate, informal approach to meeting the public
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Getty Images Princess Margaret (L) and Queen Elizabeth (R) stand next to the Queen Mother as she waves to admirers on the occasion of her 100th birthday celebration 4 August, 2000 in London.Getty Images
In 2000, the Queen Mother celebrated her 100th birthday - here with her daughters Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth
Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II (front, C) leads her family as she follows pall bearers carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother out of Westminster Abbey after the funeral service in London 09 April 2002.Getty Images
In 2002, the Queen faced the deaths of her sister, Princess Margaret, and her mother, the Queen Mother, pictured here, just seven weeks apart
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Getty Images Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip ride in the Golden State Carriage at the head of a parade from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee, on 4 June 2002, along The Mall in London.Getty Images
The Queen enjoyed a swell of support that summer as she celebrated her Golden Jubilee. Huge numbers turned out for a parade and a million people crowded into The Mall on the evening of the Jubilee on 4 June
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PA Media Marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, 2005PA Media
In 2005, Queen Elizabeth watched her eldest son get married for a second time. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles wed in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, followed by a blessing at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle
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PA Media Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attend the Braemar Highland GamesPA Media
Elizabeth, Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall share a moment at the Braemar Highland Games in Aberdeenshire
PA Media Queen Elizabeth II stands in the rain as guests take shelter at the opening of the Lawn Tennis Associations new headquarters in Roehampton, London, 2007PA Media
In 2007 the Queen was pictured sheltering from the rain during the opening of the Lawn Tennis Association's new headquarters in Roehampton
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II sits in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace in London as she looks at some of the cards which have been sent to her for her 80th birthdayPA Media
The Queen quoted Groucho Marx's dictum on ageing in a speech to celebrate her official 80th birthday saying: "Anyone can get old; all you have to do is to live long enough"
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PA Media Prince William Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Duchess of Cambridge bow in front of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England.PA Media
One of the happiest events in her later years was the wedding of her grandson Prince William to Catherine Middleton in 2011. Here Prince William and his new bride bow to the Queen
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PA Media Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive at a windy RAF Valley in Anglesey, to visit their grandson Prince William at the base.PA Media
The Queen nearly lost her hat on arrival at a windy RAF Valley in Anglesey where she and Prince Philip were visiting Prince William, who was posted to the base at the time
Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II reacts as she is given some flowers as she visits Leicester Cathedral on 8 March 2012 in Leicester, England.Getty Images
A visit to Leicester marked the start of her 60th anniversary Diamond Jubilee tour of the UK in 2012
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BBC James Bond was at Her Majesty's service as the Queen joined the opening ceremony of the London 2102 Olympic Games.BBC
This was closely followed by an appearance in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, in a filmed sequence alongside another British icon, James Bond, played by actor Daniel Craig
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PA Media Britain's Queen Elizabeth II with her racing manager John Warren after her horse, Estimate, won the Gold Cup, 2013PA Media
Sixty years after enjoying a first Royal Ascot winner as an owner, the Queen's horse Estimate won the 207th Gold Cup, bringing great joy to both herself and her racing manager John Warren
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II, on the day she became Britain's longest-reigning monarch, seen on the Scottish Borders RailwayPA Media
At 17:30 BST on 9 September 2015, Elizabeth had reigned for 23,226 days, 16 hours and approximately 30 minutes - surpassing the reign of her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. She spent the day in Scotland opening a new railway
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II joins members of the Royal Family, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children Princess Charlotte and Prince George, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, central London after they attended the Trooping the Colour ceremony as part of Her Majesty's birthday celebrationsPA Media
The Queen was joined by other members of the Royal Family for her official birthday celebrations in June 2016. She had turned 90 earlier that year
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Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II watches her horse Sparkler compete in the Flat Ridden Sport Horse class on day one of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Home Park on 9 May 2018 in Windsor, England.Getty Images
The Queen continued with her public duties, often alone after the retirement of the Duke of Edinburgh. The Queen watched her horse Sparkler compete at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 2018
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Chris Allerton / SussexRoyal The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, born Monday and named as Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to the Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle. 3 May 2019Chris Allerton / SussexRoyal
There was joy as her family grew - here she is pictured with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, their son Archie and the duchess's mother Doria Ragland. But there were also continued strains on the family - including Prince Andrew's friendship with US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Harry's growing disillusionment with life in the Royal Family
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PA Media Queen Elizabeth II takes her seat for the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Berkshire. 17 April 2021.PA Media
Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband, died on 9 April 2021, aged 99 and after more than six decades at her side. The image of the Queen by herself at the funeral during the Covid pandemic resonated with the tens of thousands of families who had to honour loved ones in similar fashion
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Duchess of Cambridge Pictured (left to right) Prince George, Prince Louis being held by Queen Elizabeth II, Savannah Phillips (standing at rear), Princess Charlotte, the Duke of Edinburgh, Isla Phillips holding Lena Tindall, and Mia Tindall. 14 April 2021Duchess of Cambridge
The Queen is survived by her four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren
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All photographs subject to copyright.