50 Images That Show The Royal History of Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II was the ruler of the United Kingdom for over seven decades and was one of the most influential women in the world. Queen Elizabeth will be missed by millions of people, not only in the United Kingdom but people from all over the world, as she was an inspiration to everyone. Although Elizabeth wasn't originally supposed to rule over the kingdom, she ended up being England's most influential ruler as she led at a time when the United Kingdom was undergoing a drastic change. Queen Elizabeth became the longest reigning monarch in England and the longest reigning female in the world. Hence, she experienced a lot in her lifetime, and many people feel that an era has ended because of her passing.
Queen Elizabeth II accomplished a lot in her long life of 96 years old and was all about duty when it came down to it. So if you want to find out more about Queen Elizabeth II's life, then be sure to check out this article of 50 images that show the royal history of Queen Elizabeth II.
A Future Queen Is Born
Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21, 1926, and was the daughter of Prince Albert and Elizabeth. Elizabeth was born during the reign of King George V, who was her grandfather and her father was not destined to rule as he was the second-born son of the king. Princess Elizabeth had a wonderful childhood and was brought up in a lovely family. Elizabeth was Prince Albert's joy in his life and would call her by the name Lilibet.
Princess Elizabeth had a close relationship with her father and it was quite a surprise to both of them when her father had to become King, which meant that Elizabeth would become Queen one day.
Coronation of King George IV
Everything changed for Prince Albert's family after his brother King Edward VIII decided that he didn't want to be king anymore as the Royal Church wouldn't allow him to marry Wallis Simpson, the woman that he was in love with. Prince Albert was the next in line to become king and had to take the position even though he was reluctant about it.
This meant that Princess Elizabeth would be next in line to the throne once her father passed away. This changed Princess Elizabeth's life significantly as she was destined to rule one day. Prince Albert's name was changed to King George VI after he was crowned King, as it is a custom that the British Monarch has done for hundreds of years.
Queen Elizabeth's Only Sibling
Queen Elizabeth's only sibling, Princess Margaret, was born on August 21, 1930, and was someone that she trusted the most out of her family. The two sisters had a great childhood together but Margaret was a bit jealous that Elizabeth would one day become Queen as she thought that she had the personality to be Queen.
Although there was some bitterness between the two, Margaret knew that she had to put duty before family. The sisters were always together when they were younger and became very fond of each other. Princess Margaret had an outgoing personality which was quite different from Elizabeth who was more reserved.
Princess Elizabeth Undertaking Public Duties During World War II
During World War II, Princess Elizabeth joined the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service as a way to help boost the morale of the people of the United Kingdom. The Princess joined the British Army when she turned 18 years old and trained to become an auto mechanic.
Princess Elizabeth started as a second subaltern which was equivalent to a second lieutenant, and those to the rank of Junior Commander. Princess Elizabeth was known for her ability to learn skills quickly and was able to take apart a vehicle's engine with no problem. Many people in the United Kingdom respected Princess Elizabeth for serving in the military during World War II.
Princess Elizabeth With One Of Her Corgis
Princess Elizabeth fell in love with Corgis after he father King George VI bought her one in 1933. The Princess named her first Pembroke Welsh corgi Dookie which she adored greatly and when she first fell in love with the dog breed. The Princess had several corgis over the years and there was not one moment in her life that she didn't have one of her furry friends around.
Queen Elizabeth has been seen in several photos with the corgis she has had over the span of her lifetime. Many people wonder what will happen to the two corgis she had, but not to worry as the responsibility will be in the hands of Prince Andrew, who was always fond of his mother's corgis.
Princess Elizabeth Meets Philip Mountbatten
Princess Elizabeth first met Philip Mountbatten in 1939 while the two were at Britannia Royal Naval College. Elizabeth was taking a tour of the school grounds when the two were introduced to each other. At the time Elizabeth was only 13 years old and Philip was 18 years old.
Princess Elizabeth admitted that she fell in love with Philip the moment that she met him and thought that he would be the man that she would marry. The two started exchanging letters during World War II and became very fond of each other. The two started dating shortly after the war and the relationship was pretty serious from the start.
Princess Elizabeth And Philip Mountbatten Get Married
In 1947, Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey. Princess Elizabeth was only 21 years old when she married Philip, which was only five years before she became Queen. Philip knew that he would never be labeled King as he was the male consort to the Queen, but was still willing to marry Elizabeth as he was in love with her.
Princess Elizabeth was quite lucky with her husband as many monarchs in the past were never with someone that they actually loved. Philip ended up becoming the Duke of Edinburgh, which was the new title that was given to him after their marriage.
The Royal Couple Have Their First Child
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip had their first child together in 1948, which they named Prince Charles. The royal couple was excited that they had a boy as he would become King one day. This was all possible because the King issued a letter patent which stated that the children would be named a royal prince or princess as the children didn't have the title due to their father not being a royal prince.
Princess Elizabeth adored Charles as she knew that she had to raise him to become a great king. Prince Philip didn't have the best relationship with his son but he taught him what he needed to become a man.
Princess Elizabeth Welcomes Princess Anne Into The World
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip had their second child together in 1950 and named the beautiful little girl Princess Anne. Princess Elizabeth was thrilled when she found out she was having a daughter as she had always wanted one. Prince Philip had a good relationship with Anne as he found her more relatable than Prince Charles.
Princess Anne was educated at Buckingham Palace where she was taught how to perform her royal duties. As Princess Anne got older she found that she liked her privacy and wanted to stay out of the spotlight. Princess Anne is seen with her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother only a couple of days after birth.
Princess Elizabeth Meets President Harry Truman
In 1951, Princess Elizabeth met President Harry Truman while she was touring America. This was the first time the Princess visited America, and she was accompanied by her husband, Prince Philip. The royal couple was touring the world on behalf of the King, who wasn't in the best shape to travel.
Towards the end of King VI's life, Princess Elizabeth started taking over many of the duties that her father wasn't able to perform. She knew that it would be only a matter of time before she became Queen as her father was becoming more ill every day.
The Royal Couple On Tour In New Zealand
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were touring all over the world as it was a test for the young Princess and King George IV was in no shape to be making a long journey. Part of the King's duty is to visit the Commonwealth Nations and different countries around the world that are allied with the United Kingdom, which Elizabeth had to take over.
Sadly, during her tour, King George VI passed away in 1952, which meant that Elizabeth was the new Queen of England. Elizabeth was shocked by the news as she dearly loved her father and would constantly ask for his advice. Her life would change drastically as she was now the new monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation
Queen Elizabeth's Coronation took place on June 2, 1953, at Westminister Abbey. Elizabeth was only 25 years old when she succeeded the throne as her father King George VI had passed away from blood clots that were forming in his heart. Queen Elizabeth's Coronation was held over a year after King George VI passed away as British tradition states there should be an appropriate time to hold such ceremonies.
Queen Elizabeth had to take an oath, was blessed with holy water, was given her royal robes, and was crowned the Queen of the United Kingdom. British people all over the nation were excited that a Queen was being crowned as there had not been a true Queen of England for quite some time.
Queen Elizabeth II In Her Royal Carriage After Her Coronation
Queen Elizabeth is seen in her gold state coach after her Coronation in 1953. Elizabeth was quite overwhelmed with the whole process of becoming Queen as there were a lot of ceremonies that had to take place over a span of several hours. Queen Elizabeth's Coronation was the first British coronation to be televised which was debated as the rules had always been that the public is not allowed to view the coronation.
Queen Elizabeth's Coronation was celebrated across all the Commonwealth countries as she was the new ruler of the Commonwealth. It was estimated that Queen Elizabeth's Coronation cost around $45 million in today's money.
Queen Elizabeth II With Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill was the first Prime Minister that served under Queen Elizabeth II. Churchill and Elizabeth had a close relationship as they both leaned on each other for advice on how to run the country. Churchill first served as Prime Minister from 1940 to 1945 and was one of the main reasons why the United Kingdom was able to survive World War II.
Churchill served as Prime Minister again from 1951 to 1955 and would often visit with the Queen on a weekly basis. Queen Elizabeth was heartbroken when she received a message from Churchill regarding his resignation and was touched when he wrote that he would miss their weekly conversations immensely.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip At The Canadian Parliament
In 1957, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip made their first visit as Queen of Canada and became the first ruling sovereign to open the Canadian Parliament. The royal couple spent four days in Ottawa and attended several ceremonies in the name of the Queen's honor. Elizabeth and Philip previously visited Canada in 1951 and were on a 33-day tour of the country, this was when King George VI wasn't in the best shape and Elizabeth had to start taking over his duties.
During Queen Elizabeth's reign, she visited 117 countries around the world and became the most famous monarch in the world because she had compassion for people all over the world.
Queen Elizabeth II Celebrating Her Silver Jubilee
In 1977, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Silver Jubilee which marked the 25th anniversary of her reign. The Queen's Silver Jubilee was celebrated all across the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The celebrations started in February and would last until June as it was close to the Queen's birthday.
The Queen visited Australia, Canada, and New Zealand throughout her Silver Jubilee tour which consisted of several parties and ceremonies. The Queen's Jubilee was one of the most celebrated events in the United Kingdom as everyone celebrated the Queen. Queen Elizabeth is seen above in New Zealand during her Silver Jubilee tour.
Queen Elizabeth II With Members Of The Commonwealth
One of the royal duties that Queen Elizabeth had to perform was making appearances at Commonwealth Conferences. The Queen is seen in this photo with various members of the Commonwealth in 1960. The Queen made over 200 visits to Commonwealth countries. Several members of the Commonwealth adored the Queen as she had a sense of pride in her and was intelligent on the matter of ruling.
The Queen's duty was to give speeches at the Commonwealth Conferences and advise the members on what is best for their nation. Queen Elizabeth visited many countries throughout her reign and the last Commonwealth country that she visited was Malta in 2015.
Queen Elizabeth II's First Christmas Broadcast
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth gave her first Christmas message which was a tradition that was first introduced by her grandfather King George V in 1932. The people of the Commonwealth Nations always looked forward to the Queen's Christmas message as it was a heartwarming message that was meant to unite everyone during Christmas time.
Since 1952, Queen Elizabeth gave a Christmas message every year expect 1969 as the royal family had been filming their documentary and instead wrote a message for the people of the Commonwealth. The people of the Commonwealth will surely miss the Queen's Christmas message as she really knew how to make people feel a sense of care.
Queen Elizabeth II Going Over Her Daily Paperwork
One of the Queen's daily duties was to look over paperwork that consisted of the problems that were going on around the Commonwealth. These papers were stored in a red box that has become famous as everyone wants to know what information it contains. The only days that the Queen didn't look at the papers from the red box were Christmas Day and Easter Sunday as those were her only two days off.
Queen Elizabeth was always a hard worker and that was one of the traits that she received from her father as he knew that she would become one of the best monarchs the Commonwealth had ever seen.
Queen Elizabeth Meets Marilyn Monroe
Queen Elizabeth met several famous people throughout her life, but one that stands out is when she met Marilyn Monroe in 1956. The extraordinary meeting took place in London, and both women were pretty excited to meet each other as both were world famous.
Another thing that the two women had in common is that they were both born in 1926, which means that Monroe would have been 96 years old if she was still alive. Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe only met once in their lifetime, but the two cherished the small moment that they had together.
Queen Elizabeth II At The Trooping the Colour Ceremony
In 1952, Queen Elizabeth II participated in her first Trooping the Colour Ceremony as Queen. This wasn't the first time Elizabeth participated in the ceremony, as she had filled in for her father the previous year. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony that is held by the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Nations that celebrate the official birthday of the British sovereign. A grand ceremony is hosted every year and features the Queen riding a horse in her ceremonial dress.
Queen Elizabeth II actually celebrates two birthdays every year, her real one which is on April 21, and her official one which occurs on the second Saturday in June and when the Trooping the Colour Ceremony occurs.
Queen Elizabeth II Welcomes Prince Andrew Into The World
In 1960, Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to her second son, Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew was the firstborn child of a ruling monarch since 1857 as Elizabeth's two other children were born when she was still a Princess. Prince Andrew was educated at Buckingham Palace at a young age, just like Elizabeth's other children. Once Prince Andrew was old enough, he joined the Royal Navy and started training to become a pilot.
In 1982, when the Falklands War broke out, Prince Andrew was stationed on one of the battleships that were off the coast of Argentina and participated in several aviation missions throughout the war.
Queen Elizabeth II And Prince Philip Visit The Taj Mahal
In 1961, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip toured India and became the first British monarchs to visit the country since it gained its independence. The royal couple visited the Taj Mahal for about an hour and took in the magnificent structure that has been standing for hundreds of years. Queen Elizabeth visited India three different times throughout her life.
Queen Elizabeth was surprised with the reaction she got from the crowds in India as the British Empire once ruled over the country, but the people didn't seem to care and had a lot of love for the Queen.
Prince Edward is Born
In 1964, Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to her fourth and last child, Prince Edward. Prince Edward's birth was the first and only time Prince Philip witnessed the birth of his child. Prince Edward was a bright boy that took school seriously and attended Collingham College in Kensington.
Once Prince Edward graduated from college, he decided to join the Royal Marines in 1986 as he was inspired by his older brother to do so. Queen Elizabeth was fond of Edward as he was so young and full of life, and later on in his life, he started helping her with royal duties that she couldn't perform anymore.
Queen Elizabeth II Enjoying One Of Her Many Hunting Trips
Queen Elizabeth II often spent her holidays in Scotland and when she was there she spent most of the time hunting. The royal family would spend their holidays mostly at Balmoral Castle, which has been in the Royal British Family since 1852. The castle is located in the Scottish countryside, which is a prime location for hunting.
Deer stalking was one of the Queen's favorite ways to hunt, and she would spend most of her time looking for the best stag to take down. The Queen was exceptionally good at hunting which ran in the Windsor family and had quite the collection of trophies that she collected over the years. As the Queen got older, she spent more time at Balmoral Castle as it felt like home to her.
Investiture of Prince Charles
In 1969, Prince Charles was made Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester. This meant that Prince Charles would become the next King of England once his mother passed on. The ceremony was held at Caernarfon Castle, located in Wales, and was celebrated across the Commonwealth. Prince Charles gave his whole speech in Welsh, which was quite hard for him as he only had a couple of months to learn the language.
Prince Charles chose to do the speech in Welsh as he wanted to respect the people of Wales. This was a good choice as the people of Wales respected the Crown and Prince Charles more than ever after that.
Queen Elizabeth II's Visit To West Germany
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip first visited West Germany in 1965, which was the first time a British monarch had visited the country since 1913. The royal couple spent ten days in West Germany and toured around the country. This was a big deal as Germany was the most significant enemy that the United Kingdom had during World War II, and it was a historic day because it marked the change of an era.
The Queen's visit to West Germany was what everyone wanted to see as it was a sign of reconciliation between the two countries. Queen Elizabeth's presence alone made the people of West Germany feel like they were part of Europe again.
The Filming Of The Royal Family Documentary
In 1969, Prince Philip proposed making a documentary about the royal family so that the people of the Commonwealth could see that the royal family wasn't much different from them. Queen Elizabeth and her family were a bit worried about displaying their lives on television. Still, they understood that if they didn't make the documentary, then the people would start losing interest in the royal family.
Once the Royal Family documentary was released to the public, the royal family saw that people apperciated them more as they saw them as an ordinary family. Princess Anne was against the whole thing as she was someone that loved to keep her life private.
Queen Elizabeth II's First Walkabout
In 1970 while in Australia, Queen Elizabeth II participated in her first public walkabout, which was astonishing as no British monarch had previously done so. Queen Elizabeth broke the tradition that had been followed for centuries, but she had an urge to start connecting with the people as she knew that the British monarchy had to start making changes to stay relevant.
Her public walkabouts worked in the Queen's favor as her popularity, and the love that she received from the people grew immensely. Queen Elizabeth knew that she had to show herself as a real person, which was quite different from the past as the public rarely saw their ruling monarch.
The Royal Family In The 1970s
One of Queen Elizabeth's favorite decades that she experienced was during the 1970s. The Queen favored these years as she felt that her family was the closest during these times. The Queen's children were all growing up and receiving the best education in the country. This made Queen Elizabeth proud as she knew that she raised her children to be successful and loving.
Many people just saw her as the Queen, but Elizabeth was a heartwarming mother that was always there for her children, and the same goes for Prince Philip as well.
The Royal Family With Members Of The G7 States
In 1977, the royal family attended the 3rd G7 summit in London, which consisted of some of the most powerful leaders in the world. The G7, also known as the Group of Seven, was created to help form similar policies within countries around the world that have similar outlooks. The group consists of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
During Queen Elizabeth's reign, she attended several G7 meetings and became accustomed to meeting with world leaders and discussing what would be best for the world as a whole.
Queen Elizabeth II With Britain's First Female Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher
In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became United Kingdom's first female Prime Minister and the longest serving in the 20th century. Queen Elizabeth and Thatcher didn't get along at first as they were both strong-headed women, but the two became closer to each other and would often ask for one's advice.
There were 15 Prime Ministers under Queen Elizabeth's reign, including the newest Prime Minister, Liz Truss. Many former Prime Ministers have admitted that the most challenging part about leaving the position was that they would not be able to see the Queen every week.
Princess Diana And Prince Charles' Wedding
In 1981, Prince Charles married Princess Diana, who was one of the most popular members of the British royal family. Diana was known for her fashion and activism, which made her just as famous as the Queen. Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana didn't really get along as the Queen thought she was too young to relate with.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles first met when she was just 16 years old as Charles was dating her older sister. The two then met again in 1980 when they started to have feelings toward each other, and less than a year later, they were married.
Ronald Reagan And Queen Elizabeth Riding Horses At Windsor Castle
In 1982, Ronald Reagan was invited to Windsor Castle on behalf of the Queen. Queen Elizabeth had a close relationship with Ronald Reagan as the two had a lot of similarities between each other. Queen Elizabeth was also very close to Nancy Reagan and even visited Reagan's ranch in 1983.
Queen Elizabeth respected Reagan so much that she awarded him with an honorary knighthood which is one of the most honorary titles that is received in England. President Reagan provided a lot of help during the Falkland Wars and the Queen saw that he should be properly awarded.
Queen Elizabeth II Awards Mother Teresa With The Order Of Merit
In 1983, Queen Elizabeth awarded Mother Teresa the Order of Merit for her service to humanity worldwide. Mother Teresa was the fifth non-British person to receive the award and gladly accepted it with pride. Queen Elizabeth presented Mother Teresa with a scarlet metal insignia at a ceremony in New Delhi, India, with no more than a dozen people.
The Order of Merit was created by Edward VII in 1902 and is an award that is given to someone for their actions in military or civil matters. Queen Elizabeth recalls that Mother Teresa was the most gentle person that she met and was honored to award her with the Order of Merit.
Queen Elizabeth II And Prince Philip At The Great Wall Of China
In 1986, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip visited the Great Wall of China during their country tour. Queen Elizabeth was the first British monarch to visit China as they had just recently embraced an open door policy. The Queen was allowed to visit the Great Wall of China as well as the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an.
The visit by the Queen opened more doors for Chinese companies to start working with Western companies and helped China grow as a nation. Queen Elizabeth only visited China once in her life as tensions began to grow between the United Kingdom and China.
Queen Elizabeth II With Pope John Paul II
In 1982, Pope John Paul II was the first pope to visit Britain and was invited to Buckingham Palace on behalf of the Queen. Queen Elizabeth first met Pope John Paul II in 1980 when she first visited the Vatican. Elizabeth was very close to Pope John Paul II as she met with the pope three times, which was more than the five other popes that were around during her reign.
Queen Elizabeth last met with Pope John Paul II in 2002, marking the 20th anniversary of their first meeting. The British monarchy has always been close to the Vatican, and these meetings made that relationship even stronger.
Princess Diana's Funeral
In 1997, Princess Diana and her partner, Dodi Fayed, were killed in a car crash in Paris while they were trying to flee from the paparazzi. Princess Diana's death was a severe blow to the world as she was loved just as much as the Queen. Queen Elizabeth was reluctant to address the death of Diana as she had resentment toward her because of what happened to her marriage with Prince Charles.
Queen Elizabeth changed her mind about addressing the world about Princess Diana's death and made a heartwarming televised speech. Diana is still missed today by millions of people around the globe, especially her sons William and Harry.
Queen Elizabeth II With Nelson Mandela
In 1996, Nelson Mandela was invited to Buckingham Palace on behalf of the Queen. Queen Elizabeth and Nelson Mandela had a close relationship which they both cherished. Mandela felt that Queen Elizabeth had the same ambitions and duties, which brought them closer to one another than he thought they would be upon meeting.
This wasn't the first time Queen Elizabeth met Mandela as she visited South Africa in 1994, right after Mandela was elected as South Africa's first black president. The two kept in close contact over the years until Mandela passed away in 2013.
Queen Elizabeth II At Her Golden Jubilee
In 2002, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Golden Jubilee, which marked the 50th anniversary of her reign. Although the Queen had suffered the loss of both her younger sister and mother that year, she insisted that she must attend all the ceremonies and schedule her Gloden Jubilee tour around the world.
The Queen and Prince Philip traveled over 40,000 miles during her Golden Jubilee tour as they visited the Caribbean, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Canada to finish off her tour. Queen Elizabeth was in good health at the time, and everyone was surprised that it had already been 50 years under her reign.
Queen Elizabeth II With Her Mother Before Her Passing
In 2002, The Queen Mother passed away while she was sleeping. Queen Elizabeth was by her mother's bedside when she passed away. The Queen Mother was 101 years old, which made her the longest-living member of the British royal family. Queen Elizabeth was very close to her mother and was deeply saddened when she lost her.
The Queen Mother was Queen from 1936 to 1952 and was the wife of King George VI. The Queen Mother experienced a lot as she lived through World Wars and the Great Depression. The Queen Mother taught Queen Elizabeth everything she needed to become Queen and was always by her side until her passing.
Queen Elizabeth II Enjoying The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show
The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show has been hosted in the Royal Hospital Chelsea since 1913. Queen Elizabeth was a big fan of the flower show as she was fond of gardens and beautiful flowers. Queen Elizabeth tried her best to attend the flower show every year since she became the Queen.
The Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show is the biggest flower show in the world and has some of the most exotic flowers that you wouldn't expect to see in London. The last time Queen Elizabeth attended the flower show was in 2022, and she was just as enthusiastic as the first time she attended one.
Queen Elizabeth II's First Visit To The Republic of Ireland
In 2011, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were invited by President Mary McAleese of Ireland to visit the Republic of Ireland. This was the first time that a British monarch visited the Republic of Ireland as the country had split away from the United Kingdom in 1916. This was a significant meeting as it marked the reconciliation between the two nations.
This wasn't the first time Queen Elizabeth II visited Ireland though, as she made several visits to Northern Ireland, which is still part of the United Kingdom. President Mary McAleese felt it was time to set aside their differences and work as one.
Queen Elizabeth II With Her Grandson's Family
Prince William is Queen Elizabeth II's grandson and the son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Prince William is next in line to the throne after his father, Prince Charles. Queen Elizabeth admired William as he put duty in front of everything. Prince William married Catherine Middleton, which gave her the new title of the Princess of Wales.
The royal couple has three children together, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince George will one day become the King of England as he is the firstborn son of Prince William, but that is some time away as both Prince Charles, and Prince William are in good health.
Queen Elizabeth II With Her Grandson Harry
Prince Harry is also Queen Elizabeth II's grandson and the son of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Prince Harry is the fifth in line of the succession to the British throne, but he has decided that he doesn't want to be a part of the royal family anymore. Queen Elizabeth was quite disappointed with Prince Harry's decision, but she respected it as it had happened before in the family.
Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, who is now labeled the Duchess of Sussex. The royal couple welcomed their first child, Prince Albert, in 2019, and not too long after, had a second child named Princess Lilibet.
Queen Elizabeth II At Her Diamond Jubilee Ceremony
In 2012, Queen Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond Jubilee as it marked the 60th anniversary of her reign. There was only one monarch before her who celebrated a Diamond Jubilee, and that was Queen Victoria in 1897. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations were not as grand in 2012 as England was going through an economic crisis.
Queen Elizabeth II toured all the Commonwealth Nations, and it was the last time that Prince Philip toured with Queen Elizabeth as he wanted to live his life more privately. This was also the last time the Queen toured around the Commonwealth as well as her health started to decline.
Prince Philip Passes Away
In 2021, Queen Elizabeth II lost her lifelong husband, Prince Philip, who passed away from natural causes. Queen Elizabeth was at Prince Philip's bedside when he passed, and she was devastated as she was truly in love with him. Prince Philip was 99 years old, which made him the longest-serving royal consort.
Prince Philip's funeral was on April 17, 2021, and it was a sad day as the Queen mentioned that his death left a big void in her life. The royal couple was married for 73 years and met when she was just a teenager. The Queen was never the same after the passing of Prince Philip as he had been the love of her life.
Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates Her Platinum Jubilee
In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, which marked the 70th anniversary of her reign. This was the last Jubilee Queen Elizabeth celebrated as she passed away just a couple of months after. This Jubilee was quite different from others because of the pandemic, as the Queen had to take precautions and didn't travel as much.
This was the first time in history that a British monarch celebrated a Platinum Jubilee. Celebrations were thrown all around the Commonwealth, and many world leaders congratulated the Queen on her long reign. Many people will remember the Platinum Jubilee as it was the last time the Queen's birthday was celebrated.
Last Photo of Queen Elizabeth II
This is one of the last photos of Queen Elizabeth II as she greets the nation's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss. Queen Elizabeth will be missed as she was the backbone of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth Nations. Many people saw her as a figure who never changed and was always there to tell the nation that everything would be alright.
Queen Elizabeth inspired people worldwide by showing the world that even monarchs have compassion. Now it is up to her son, Prince Charles, to take the reigns as he has been given the new title of King Charles III. Her passing marks the end of an era as she lived through the struggles of the 20th century and was able to lead her nation in the most perilous times.