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

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

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.

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

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.