In Pictures: Looking back on the life and times of Queen Elizabeth II

The young princess who never expected to ascend to the throne became the face of her nation for 70 years. Elizabeth was just 25 when she became queen in 1952. Here's a look back on the life of Britain's longest-reigning monarch, who died on Thursday.

Updated

Published

Sep 09, 2022, 10:31 AM

Princess Elizabeth with her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, in 1932. PHOTO: NYTIMES

Princess Elizabeth with her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, in the royal box for a show at the London Coliseum in 1939. PHOTO: NYTIMES

Princess Elizabeth (right) and her sister Princess Margaret sending a message during the BBC's children programme, particularly to the children who were being evacuated because of World War II, on Oct 1, 1940. PHOTO: AFP

Princess Elizabeth, the future queen, greeting well-wishers at Buckingham Palace in London after her wedding to Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, right, on Nov 20, 1947. PHOTO: NYTIMES

Queen Elizabeth II (centre) in Westminster Abbey on her coronation day in London on June 2, 1953. PHOTO: AFP

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and their three children Prince Charles (right), Princess Anne (left) and Prince Andrew (third from left) in the grounds of Balmoral Castle on Sept 9, 1960. PHOTO: AFP

Queen Elizabeth II placing a crown on her son Prince Charles, during his investiture as the new Prince of Wales in Caernarfon on July 1, 1969. PHOTO: AFP

Queen Elizabeth II visiting Mr Ong Koon Ann's family in Ang Mo Kio, on Oct 10, 1989. Mr Ong, 40, a technician who took a day off for the visit, was with his wife and three children. Queen Elizabeth II, her consort Prince Philip, and her party were in Singapore for a three-day state visit. ST PHOTO: LIM SENG GUAN

Two prancing "lions" at Tanjong Pagar welcome Queen Elizabeth II on Oct 10, 1989. Hundreds of Chinatown residents lined Neil Road before the royal couple and their entourage arrived at the restored shophouses there. ST PHOTO: WAN SENG YIP

Queen Elizabeth II attending the State Banquet at the Istana on Oct 10, 1989. Seated next to her is Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew (left) and President Wee Kim Wee (right). ST PHOTO: MAZLAN BADRON

Royal guards shade Queen Elizabeth II and Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej from the sun with traditional Thai parasols during the welcoming ceremony at Bangkok military airport on Oct 28, 1996. PHOTO: REUTERS

Queen Elizabeth II, wearing the Imperial Crown, escorted by her husband Prince Philip, during a procession through The Royal Gallery before her speech at the ceremonial state opening of Parliament in London on Nov 13, 2002. PHOTO: AFP

Queen Elizabeth ll is offered a rose by a wellwisher while inspecting the Princess Diana memorial fountain in London's Hyde Park after the unveiling ceremony on July 6, 2004. PHOTO: AFP

Queen Elizabeth II (left) being greeted by former prime minister Margaret Thatcher as she arrives at Mrs Thatcher's 80th birthday celebrations at the Mandarin hotel in London on Oct 13, 2005. PHOTO: REUTERS

Queen Elizabeth II smiling with Prince Harry (fourth from right) during the Sovereign's Parade at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst, southern England, on April 12, 2006. PHOTO: REUTERS

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, Prince William and Duchess Catherine, along with other members of the British royal family, looking up at the RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of the Trooping the Colour parade in London on June 9, 2018. PHOTO: REUTERS

Queen Elizabeth II and Charles, the Prince of Wales, ahead of the Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament in London on Oct 14, 2019. PHOTO: REUTERS

Queen Elizabeth II looking at the coffin of her husband, Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99, during his funeral service at St George's Chapel, in Windsor on April 17, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS

Queen Elizabeth II smiling in Sandringham House in Norfolk, eastern England, on Feb 2, 2022. The photo was released to mark the start of Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee Year. PHOTO: BUCKINGHAM PALACE VIA AFP

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Louis on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of the Trooping the Colour parade during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London on June 2, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

Queen Elizabeth II waiting to receive Liz Truss, the newly elected leader of the Conservative party, at Balmoral Castle on Sept 6, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS

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