From Malala to young Imran Khan: Famous Pakistanis who met the late Queen Elizabeth II

On September 8, 2022, UK’s longest-serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II died peacefully at the age of 96 at Balmoral, her Scottish estate. Following the Majesty’s sudden demise, the world browsed through their archives to document the legacy she left behind, and took a trip down memory lane to revisit the precious time she gave to the people of the many countries she travelled to.

Likewise, social media, including world leaders, reminisced about Her Majesty’s visit to Pakistan. From attending our national assemblies and governor galas to inviting and meeting with our heroes in her home country, here’s a list of the late Queen’s relationship with Pakistan and its people, ever since her coronation in 1952.

1961

This marked the first time Queen Elizabeth II took a trip to Pakistan. Accompanied by her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, she visited Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore, and other areas of the country. A user took to Twitter to share pictures from her visit and detailed her outfits while in Pakistan.

From riding in a convertible while waving at the crowd on the streets of Karachi to flaunting her glittering tiaras and ball gowns at a luncheon hosted by the Governor of Peshawar and a gala held in Lahore, the pictures see a smiling graceful lady.

During her visit, she was also introduced to the then president, Muhammad Ayub Khan while in Lahore.

1974

Queen Elizabeth II also graced the Pakistan Cricket Team with her presence during the latter’s tour of England while they played against the country’s cricket team at the Lord's stadium. A picture shows the Majesty shaking hands with former premier Imran Khan, who was a cricketer back then.

1997

After 1961, the next visit to Pakistan was over three decades later when the Queen joined the country in celebrating 50 years of its independence. She was again accompanied by Prince Philip.

In the pictures floating on the Internet, she is seen posing in a bright yellow polka-dotted dress as she stood with Pakistani leaders at the Shah Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. While touring the mosque, she covered her head with a scarf over her hat while wearing stockings as a sign of respect for our culture.

She also spoke at a banquet hosted by the then President of Pakistan, Farooq Leghari. Her speech was reflective of her emotions about the tragic death of Princess Diana. From planting trees to visiting public schools, there are several memories of her 1997 trip to Pakistan.

Apart from her tours, she also gave knighthood to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was in power at that time. The British monarch also met with the late Benazir Bhutto at a national assembly of Pakistan during her visit.

2013

While she didn't visit Pakistan Post 1997, it wasn't the last of her interactions with renowned Pakistani personalities. In 2013, the Queen and Prince Philip invited the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and activist Malala Yousafzai to a reception at Buckingham Palace, where they met and spoke for a brief time.

Malala, who was accompanied by her father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, presented the Queen with a copy of her memoir titled I Am Malala. While giving a tribute to the Queen, the activist shared a picture of her meeting with Her Majesty on Instagram.

2019

The last of her in-person interactions with Pakistanis was when she met all team captains before the start of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) World Cup 2019. At the time, the Pakistani cricket team captain Sarfraz Ahmed met her at Buckingham Palace.