Celebrating the life of Queen Elizabeth II through photographs

Elizabeth II was never meant to become queen. And yet, her 70-year-reign made her the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch in history. She witnessed great change, progress, heartache and tragedy during seven decades on the throne. We took to our historical newspapers to celebrate her incredible life through photographs.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born in Mayfair, London on 21 April 1926, to parents Albert, Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. At the time of her birth, her grandfather George V was reigning, with her father’s elder brother Edward, Prince of Wales, as the heir. If you need a refresher on the Queen's family tree, you can find this here.

But in 1936, a constitutional crisis shook the monarchy. Edward VIII wished to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American socialite. He followed his heart and abdicated, leaving Albert to ascend as George VI. And so, young Princess Elizabeth, aged only 10, became the heir presumptive. Even now, however, she was not the heir apparent - if a younger brother came along, he would move ahead of her in the line of succession.

When the Second World War broke out in 1939, it was suggested that Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret be evacuated to Canada. This idea was quickly dismissed by the Queen. Young Princess Elizabeth undertook her first solo public appearance in 1942 when she visited the Grenadier Guards. She later joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service and trained as a driver and mechanic.

Elizabeth came of age in 1944, and a quiet countryside celebration was held with the Royal family.

The Second World War ended in 1945, and the country celebrated after six years of war and uncertainty. Princess Elizabeth took to the balcony of Buckingham Palace on VE Day with the King, Queen, her sister Margaret and Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. It would be a day to go down in history.

But the future queen needed a consort. In 1947, Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten announced their engagement. They first met in 1937 and began exchanging letters in 1939. Even at a young age, Princess Elizabeth knew herself to be in love, and it was a love that would last decades. Prince Philip died in 2021 aged 99. 

The happy couple were married at Westminster Abbey on 20 November 1947. Believe it or not, even this royal princess needed ration coupons to buy material for her wedding dress in post-war Britain.

Their first child, Prince Charles, was born in 1948. Other children followed: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward helped the royal family tree bloom. 

Tragedy struck while the royal couple was on a tour of Kenya in 1952. News reached them that George V, Elizabeth’s beloved father, had died. At that moment, young Princess Elizabeth, aged just 25, became the Queen of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. At the time, she also became the queen of Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). 

Excitement filled the air at the prospect of another queen. The Tatler commented:

On 2 June 1953, Elizabeth was crowned Queen Elizabeth II in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. It was the first time in history a British monarch’s coronation was televised, and it was watched by people around the world. She was 27 years old.

During her long reign, Queen Elizabeth was served by 15 prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Margaret Thatcher and Boris Johnson.

Queen Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through The Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution, the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, and the decolonisation of Africa. Many of her realms gained independence. She oversaw great change and innovation. 

The Queen lived through troubling times in her own family too: the death of Princess Diana in 1997, the breakaway from the royal family of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the allegations against Prince Andrew. 

She reached her Golden Jubilee in 2002, her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, and became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee in 2017 and a Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

Elizabeth leaves four children, eight grandchildren, including Prince William, and twelve great-grandchildren. May she rest in peace.