Long to reign over us: From flower shows to reading her birthday cards, Her Majesty pictured in every year of her rule
As one of the most photographed women in the world, the Queen’s reign has been documented through a camera lens hundreds of thousands of times during her 70-year reign.
From the earliest picture in a black mourning outfit when she had been sovereign for just one day to walking her corgis and through coal mines, this stunning collection of photographs documents her historic life.
It includes the moment she sat nervously in the ancient Coronation chair inside Westminster Abbey as she was crowned in 1953.
Also seen is Her Majesty making her first televised Christmas Day broadcast to the nation in 1957, a move that she would echo in every subsequent year of her reign, as television technology was transformed.
The images also display the Queen’s love of horses, with many showing her on horseback or at the races, as others reflect her relationship with her cherished corgi dogs.
Many of the images show the Queen with her beloved husband Prince Philip and their children Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward at various points in their early lives.
One moving photo shows Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Buckingham Palace balcony in 1954 – just two years into her reign – with a five-year-old Prince Charles and a three-year-old Princess Anne.
And Her Majesty is seen later in life, when she continued to carry out her sacred duties with the stoicism and determination that characterised her long reign.
1952 — In mourning: In the earliest image from February 7, 1952, the Queen is pictured in a black outfit as she returns to Clarence House in London. Elizabeth II has been monarch for just one day after the death of her father King George VI
1953 — Queen’s Coronation: One June 2, 1953, Queen Elizabeth II is pictured wearing the St Edward Crown and carrying the Sceptre and the Rod after her coronation in Westminster Abbey. The coronation was televised to millions of Britons and others around the world
1954 — Royal wave: On May 15, 1954, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are pictured with Prince Charles and Princess Anne on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following their return from the Commonwealth tour. The Queen and Prince Philip went on to have Prince Andrew in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964
1955 — At the races: Dated September 7, 1955, Queen Elizabeth II is pictured at Doncaster racecourse to see the St. Leger. An avid racing fan, the Queen began riding lessons at the age of three and was known for her knowledge of thoroughbreds and breeding
1956 — Family support: On May 2, 1956, the Queen visited Windsor Great Park with Prince Charles to watch the Duke of Edinburgh play polo. The athletic duke also enjoyed competitive carriage driving, which he only gave up in his 80s
1957 — On telly: Queen Elizabeth II, pictured in the Long Library at Sandringham, after making the first televised Christmas day broadcast to the nation in 1957. She is holding the copy of Pilgrim’s Progress, from which she read a few lines during her message
1958 — Dressed for the mines: The Queen dressed in a white boiler suit, scarf and safety helmet on a visit to the coal mine at Rothes Colliery in Fife on July 1, 1958. It was her first visit to a coal mine and she spent around 30 minutes underground visiting the coal face
1959 — Wellies and brollies: The Queen at Badminton Horse Trials on April 16, 1959. The monarch has been a frequent visitor at the three-day event for many years
1960 — Royal baby: Queen Elizabeth II holding Prince Andrew during an outing in the grounds at Balmoral, Scotland, on November 8, 1960. He was the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for 103 years
1961 — Bonding time: In a picture dated May 18, 1961, the Queen is shown out riding at Windsor Castle with a young Prince Charles
1962 — Stylish: The Queen in a leopard-skin coat at a Sandown Park race meeting on March 23, 1962. The fur ensemble was consigned to the wardrobe after conservationists urged her not to wear it, but she was seen in other fur coats and hats later
1963 — On horseback: On June 8, 1963, she is seen riding side-saddle at the Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horse Guards Parade. The Queen appeared at her annual birthday parade every year of her reign, except for 1955 when a national rail strike cancelled the event
1964 — Checking the soldiers: The Queen, who was also head of the Armed Forces, is seen inspecting the 1st and 2nd Battalions Coldstream Guards, at Windsor, on June 22, 1964
1965 — Family day out: Pictured from left, Queen Elizabeth II, baby Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and the Duke of Edinburgh, in the gardens of Frogmore House, Windsor, Berkshire, as they celebrate the Queen’s 39th birthday on April 21, 1965. The same pram was used to ferry the Queen’s great-granddaughter Princess Charlotte to her christening
1966 — Birthday celebrations: The Queen in the House of Lords during the opening of Parliament on April 21, 1966 – her 40th birthday. She only missed two of the ceremonies: in 1959 when she was pregnant with Prince Andrew and in 1963, while expecting Prince Edward
1967 — Dressed up: The Queen, who had been in uniform herself, at the garden party in the grounds of the Royal Hospital in London’s Chelsea on June 1, 1967, to mark the 50th anniversary of women in active service during the Second World War
1968 — Glamorous: Queen Elizabeth and PA Chairman W.D. Barnetson looking at a collection of Royal images from the Press Association during a reception in Guildhall, London, marking the centenary of the Press Association, on June 6, 1968
1969 — Titled: Queen Elizabeth II formally investing her son Prince Charles with the Coronet of the Prince of Wales during an investiture ceremony at Caernarfon castle July 1, 1969. He actually took on the title when he was nine, but the Queen insisted the ceremony should wait until he fully understood its significance
1970 — Meetings: Queen Elizabeth II with Prime Minister Edward Heath and US President Richard Nixon and his wife Pat Nixon at Chequers, Buckinghamshire on October 3, 1970
1971 — Green-fingered: The Queen on her visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 24, 1971, a regular fixture in the royal calendar. The Queen usually attended each year and Prince Charles, a keen gardener, has picked up several silver medals for his own gardens at the show
1972 — Hard-working: The Queen in her study at Balmoral on September 1, 1972 – the year of her silver wedding anniversary. Even when away from London, in residence at Balmoral or Sandringham, she received official papers nearly every day with her working day starting at her desk
1973 — Chilling with the corgis: The Queen sitting with her corgis, at Virginia Water, to watch competitors, including Prince Philip, in the Marathon of the European Driving Championship on May 12, 1973. She owned more than 30, many of them direct descendants from her first corgi Susan
1974 — Ceremony: The Queen and Princess Anne in Buckingham Palace on November 26, 1974, with some of the heroes being decorated after helping Anne during an attempt to kidnap her as she was driven back to the Palace along Pall Mall. When armed kidnapper Ian Ball, who was going to demand £3million for her release, instructed Anne to get out of the car, she retorted that his plot was not ‘bloody likely’ to work
1975 — Royal duties: Pictured on May 5, 1975, the Queen stands near an oak sapling, which she planted in the garden of the government guesthouse in Tokyo, after it had been brought to Japan from Windsor castle. Tree-planting is a staple part of royals duties and the monarch planted hundreds all over the world during her reign
1976 — Holiday: The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during their traditional summer break at Balmoral Castle on September 26, 1976. The Highland retreat was one of the Queen’s favourite places and she headed off to Scotland for the summer each year
1977 — On tour: The Queen on a walkabout in Portsmouth during her Silver Jubilee tour of Britain on June 29, 1977. She marked 25 years on the throne with a busy UK tour, visiting 36 counties over 10 weeks, as well as travelled 56,000 miles around the world in celebration
1978 — Nice to meet you! The Queen with a Jersey cow she was presented with at the Country Show at Le Petit Catelet, Saint John, Jersey, on June 27, 1978. An exotic range of live animals were given to the Queen as gifts over the years, including a canary from Germany, jaguars and sloths from Brazil, two black beavers from Canada, two young giant turtles from the Seychelles and an elephant called Jumbo from the Cameroon
1979 — Royal entourage: Queen Elizabeth II is pictured in a bright yellow outfit during a walkabout in Muscat while visiting Oman on March 2, 1979
1980 — Walkies: The Queen with some of her corgis walking the Cross Country course during the second day of the Windsor Horse Trials on May 17, 1980. The monarch was responsible for introducing a new breed of dog known as the ‘dorgi’ when her corgi Tiny was mated with a dachshund ‘sausage dog’ called Pipkin which belonged to Princess Margaret
1981 — Big fan: The Queen walking through the crowds at the Royal Ascot race meeting on June 1, 1981. The monarch, who usually attended the meet each year, took a close personal interest in Ascot and was kept informed of the order of running. She owned more than 20 winners at Ascot
2003 — Team picture: Queen Elizabeth II – and Berry the corgi – pictured with the England rugby squad, at a reception on December 8, 2003, at Buckingham Palace in London to celebrate winning the Rugby World Cup
2004 — Tribute: The Queen laid a wreath at the Neue Wache Memorial, a memorial to victims of war and tyranny in Berlin on November 2, 2004, at the start of her three-day state visit to Germany
2005 — Wedding bells: The Queen at the religious blessing of Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall’s marriage at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on April 9, 2005. The monarch told guests in a speech at the wedding reception that her son was ‘home and dry with the woman he loves’
2006 — Birthday mail: Queen Elizabeth II sitting in the Regency Room at Buckingham Palace in London on April 20, 2006, looking at some of the cards which had been sent to her for her 80th birthday
2007 — Diamond! Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh re-visiting Broadlands in Hampshire to mark their diamond wedding anniversary on November 18, 2007, where 60 years ago in November 1947 they spent their wedding night
2008 — Speech: Queen Elizabeth II speaking at a state banquet at Windsor Castle in Windsor on March 26, 2008, at the start of a two-day state visit by President Sarkozy
2009 — Stuck in: Queen Elizabeth II planting a tree at Newmarket Animal Health Trust on October 29, 2009, during a royal visit which marked her 50th year as the charity’s patron
2010 — Meeting the Pope: Queen Elizabeth II talking with Pope Benedict XVI during an audience in the Morning Drawing Room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on September 16, 2010, during a four-day visit by the Pope to the UK
2011 — Memorial: Queen Elizabeth II is pictured on July 20, 2011, during a visit to the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, where she laid a wreath next to the wall of the Armed Forces Memorial where the 2010 names are inscribed. The memorial bears the names of more than 15,000 servicemen and women killed on duty since the end of the Second World War
2012 — 60 years as sovereign: The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge are seen laughing together as they watch a children’s sports event in Vernon Park, Nottingham
2013 — Group shot: Elizabeth II joining The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (5 SCOTS) for a photograph during her visit to Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent, on June 28, 2013
2014 — Celebrity guest: Actress Angelina Jolie is pictured being presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George by Queen Elizabeth II in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace on October 10, 2014
2015 — Queen Elizabeth II waves after watching a flypast of Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of The Battle of Britain on July 10, 2015
2016 — The Queen sits at a desk in the Regency Room after recording her Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth at Buckingham Palace on December 24, 2016
2017 — Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh feed Donna the elephant as they visit the ZSL Whipsnade Zoo at the Elephant Centre on April 11, 2017
2018 — The Queen with fashion queen Anna Wintour at London Fashion Week on February 20, 2018
2019 — The Queen is shown documents during a visit to the Royal Philatelic Society in London on November 26, 2019
2020 — The Queen speaks to Prime Minister Boris Johnson from Windsor Castle during the Covid crisis on March 25, 2020
2021 — The Queen takes her seat during the funeral of her husband Prince Philip at St George’s Chapel on April 17, 2021
2022 — The Queen meets the incoming and outgoing Defence Service Secretaries at Windsor Castle on February 16, 2022
February 5, 2022 — The Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee at the start of February, cutting a cake made in her honour, left, and releasing a statement announcing that Camilla would be crowned Queen Consort when Charles becomes king
2022 — The Queen is helped by her son Prince Andrew during the remembrance service for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey in March
2022 — A portrait of the Queen released by The Royal Windsor Horse Show to mark the occasion of her 96th birthday in April
2022 — The Queen pictured on the day after her 96th birthday, which she celebrated at Sandringham on April 21. She was being driven by John Warren the monarch’s racing manager
2022 — The Queen attending the Chelsea Flower Show in May 2022. Her Majesty toured the event in a chauffer-driven golf buggy
2022 — Her Majesty stands on the Buckingham Palace balcony on the final day of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in early June
2022 — Queen Elizabeth II stands as Prince Louis covers his ears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 2, 2022
2022 — The Queen shocked even members of her own family by appearing alongside Paddington Bear in a sketch to kick off the Platinum Party at the Palace gig during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
2022 — Her Majesty arriving at Balmoral Castle for the start of her summer break on July 21
2022 — The Queen waits in the Drawing Room at Balmoral shortly before meeting new Tory leader Liz Truss, who was appointed as Prime Minister by Her Majesty
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