- The Queen posted her first Instagram account today on the @royalfamily official account.
- The photo is of a letter from computer pioneer Charles Babbage to her great-great-grandfather, Prince Albert, from 1843.
- The Queen said it was "fitting" for her to publish the post after reading the letter and visiting the Science Museum in London.
You're never too old to make your Instagram debut. Just take a look at Queen Elizabeth II, 92 years young, who just shared her first post on the app today. Although she doesn't have her own handle, she did compose a post for @royalfamilly, the official account representing the sovereign and other royals.
Her Majesty was inspired to make the post after an important discovery at London's Science Museum today. She found a letter from 1843 written to her great-great-grandfather, Prince Albert, from Charles Babbage, the world's first computer pioneer. Considering the historic links between the tech world and her family, it was only right that the Queen blessed Instagram with her presence.
Read her full caption below:
Today, as I visit the Science Museum I was interested to discover a letter from the Royal Archives, written in 1843 to my great-great-grandfather Prince Albert.
Charles Babbage, credited as the world’s first computer pioneer, designed the “Difference Engine”, of which Prince Albert had the opportunity to see a prototype in July 1843.
In the letter, Babbage told Queen Victoria and Prince Albert about his invention the “Analytical Engine” upon which the first computer programmes were created by Ada Lovelace, a daughter of Lord Byron.
Today, I had the pleasure of learning about children’s computer coding initiatives and it seems fitting to me that I publish this Instagram post, at the Science Museum which has long championed technology, innovation and inspired the next generation of inventors.
Elizabeth R.
Watch the exact moment she posted the photo below.
Because this is the Queen we're talking about, her 'gram was also put on display in the museum, alongside the letter from Babbage to Prince Albert.
The Queen isn't the only royal with a presence on Instagram. In addition to the @royalfamily handle, there's also a @clarencehouse account, representing Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla, and @kensingtonroyal, representing the Cambridges and Sussexes.
Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, also has his own official public page (@hrhthedukeofyork), and so does his daughter, Princess Eugenie (@princesseugenie). Her older sister, Princess Beatrice, has a private account.
This post has been updated.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
