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Date Published: 08/09/2022

Queen Elizabeth II: a life in pictures

The Queen passed away today, Thursday September 8, 2022 at home in Balmoral Castle

Queen Elizabeth II / Image: British Embassy Kyiv

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor, Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, died today at her home at Balmoral Castle. She is survived by her four children (of whom the eldest, Charles, now ascends to the throne as King), eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Princess Margaret, Queen-Elizabeth, Winston Churchill, King George VI and a 19-year-old Princess Elizabeth stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on VE Day, May 8 1945 / Alamy

Born on April 21, 1926, the young Princess Elizabeth Windsor was no stranger to the limelight, mixing with such eminent figures as Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was beloved by the nation for winning World War II. The young queen would later have to contend with the elder statesman of British politics when she took the throne, just 8 years after this photo was taken.

Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation, 1953 / Wikimedia commons

Ascending to the throne in 1952, crowned in 1953 and ruling until 2022, the Queen is the second longest-reigning monarch (after Louis XIV of France), and the longest-serving female monarch ever.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip arrive at Oakey Airport in Australia, 1954 / Wikimedia commons

After becoming queen, she embarked with her husband Prince Phillip on a world tour to visit all the countries in the Commonwealth of which she had become sovereign, and resolved to reign over a new kind of Commonwealth “built on the highest qualities of the Spirit of Man: friendship, loyalty, and the desire for freedom and peace”.

A selection of Australian and Canadian stamps with the Queen’s likeness on them / pasja1000 on Pixabay

When she came to the throne, the British Empire was rapidly declining in importance, and was being replaced by the voluntary association of the Commonwealth of Nations, which included Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, among others.

Her Majesty in Queen Street Mall, Brisbane City, Australia, 1982 / Wikimedia commons

Beloved by many for much of her reign, the Queen undertook to visit as many countries and see as many people as she could in her role as sovereign.

Queen Elizabeth with Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and Helmut Kohl at Buckingham Palace, 1984 / Levan Ramishvili on Flickr

President George W Bush toasts the Queen / US National Archives

Vladimir Putin and Queen Elizabeth / Wikimedia commons

Over the years, she had the chance to rub shoulders with nearly every world leader and many celebrities.

The Queen at Westminster Abbey with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby / Flickr

Over the course of her entire life, the Queen used her Christian faith as a crutch through the hard times, and was proud of her position as Head of the Church of England.

Queen Elizabeth signing an official document at Chatham House / Wikimedia commons

Never one to seek the spotlight, the Queen continued to dedicate herself stoically to her work in the service of her subjects, even as retirement age came and went.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh / Wikimedia commons

In her later years, the Queen had to deal with personal scandals and tribulations such as the exit of her grandson Prince Harry from the royal family, the accusations of paedophilia against her son Prince Andrew, and the death of her husband, Prince Philip.

You may also like: How are the Spanish and UK Royal Families related? The curious story of the modern European monarchy

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