Queen Elizabeth II: 20 photos to remember Britain's longest reigning monarch

Britain’s longest-reigning royal, the monarch of 15 countries, has died aged 96 after more than 70 years on the throne

LONDON,:

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, head of the Commonwealth and monarch of 15 countries, has died aged 96 after more than 70 years on the throne, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday.

Queen Elizabeth died at the Balmoral royal estate in Scotland this afternoon after having suffered from health problems since last October. She was in her Platinum Jubilee year, marking 70 years since she succeeded her father king George VI in 1952. All her children – including the heir to the throne Prince Charles – rushed to be at her side at Balmoral, aides said.

To celebrate the late Queen's reign, here are 20 photos to remember her by:

1. The queen, then Princess Elizabeth, with two corgis at her home at 145 Piccadilly, London, July 1936. 

2. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret making a broadcast to the children of the Empire during World War II, in October 1940.

3. While on board the HMS Vanguard, Crown Princess Elizabeth plays tag with midshipmen.

4. Princess Elizabeth stands with her recent fiancé, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, Prince of Greece and Denmark, in 1947.

5. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip on their wedding day, November 20, 1947.

6. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip enjoying a walk during their honeymoon at Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire, in 1947.

7. Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh on the day of her coronation, Buckingham Palace, 1953.

8. Queen Elizabeth, in an undated photo, in full-length formal attire.

10. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip pose for a portrait at Buckingham Palace, London, December 1958.

11. Queen Elizabeth and her children during a picnic on the grounds of Balmoral Castle, in 1960.

12. Diana, Princess of Wales, and the queen attend the Opening of Parliament, in London, in November 1982.

13. Queen Elizabeth with her grandsons, Prince William and Prince Harry, at a polo match, in 1987.

14. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrive to attend a state banquet, in Dublin Castle, on May 18, 2011, in Dublin, Ireland. The Duke and Queen’s visit to Ireland was the first by a monarch since 1911.

15. Queen Elizabeth tours Queen Mother Square on October 27, 2016 in Poundbury, Dorset.

 

16. Queen Elizabeth at Prince Charles and Princess Diana's wedding in July 29, 1981

17. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, revisit Broadlands to mark their diamond wedding anniversary on November 20, 2007. The royals spent their wedding night at Broadlands, in Hampshire, in November 1947, the former home of Prince Philip’s uncle, Earl Mountbatten.

18. Queen Elizabeth sits at a desk in the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace, after recording her Christmas Day broadcast, in 2017.

 

19. Queen Elizabeth at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on April 29, 2011.

20. Queen Elizabeth at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding on May 19, 2018.

'The Queen died peacefully'

Buckingham Palace announced the Queen's death in a short statement, triggering 10 days of national mourning and an outpouring of tributes to her long life and record-breaking reign. "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," Buckingham Palace said in a statement at 6:30 pm (1730 GMT). "The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow." 

The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon.

The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/VfxpXro22W

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 8, 2022

The eldest of her four children, Charles, Prince of Wales, who at 73 is the oldest heir apparent in British history, becomes king immediately. The queen's death came after the palace announced on Thursday that doctors were "concerned" for her health and recommended she stayed under medical supervision.

Britain's longest-reigning monarch

Throughout her tenure, the queen built a bond with the people of Great Britain through a seemingly endless series of public appearances as she opened libraries, dedicated hospitals and bestowed honors on deserving citizens. The Queen’s passing comes just three months after people across Britain paused over a long holiday weekend to celebrate her 70 years on the throne.

While crowds of cheering, flag-waving fans filled the streets around Buckingham Palace throughout four days of festivities, the Queen herself made only two brief appearances on the palace balcony to wave to her subjects. Elizabeth had increasingly handed over duties to Charles and other members of the royal family in recent months as she recovered from a bout of Covid-19, began using a cane and struggled to get around.

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