Queen Elizabeth II Over the Years

1930s

The young Princess Elizabeth had a relatively carefree upbringing — her fate as future queen wasn't set until her uncle King Edward VIII's abdication.

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Image Source: Getty

A 10-year-old Elizabeth with little sister Margaret; their mother, Queen Elizabeth; and the family Corgis in 1936, the year her father became king.

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Image Source: Getty / Mondadori

At her father King George VI's coronation in 1937.

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1940s

Image Source: Getty / Getty Images

One year into WWII, at the age of 14, Princess Elizabeth addressed the children of the nation in her first radio broadcast.

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Image Source: Getty / Lisa Sheridan

Playing Aladdin alongside sister Margaret in a pantomime at Windsor Castle in 1943.

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Image Source: Getty / Popperfoto

Training as a mechanic in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945.

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Image Source: Getty / Topical Press Agency

Giving a speech about dedicating herself to service on her 21st birthday in 1947.

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Image Source: Getty / Popperfoto

The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947.

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Image Source: Getty / Popperfoto

Prince Charles was born in 1948.

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1950s

Image Source: Getty / Keystone

Four generations of royal women: baby Princess Anne with Queen Mary, the queen, and the queen mother in 1950.

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Image Source: Getty / AFP

Greeted by Prime Minister Winston Churchill as the newly acceded Queen Elizabeth II returned to the country following the death of her father.

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Image Source: Getty / STF

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

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Image Source: Getty / Bentley Archive/Popperfoto

The first-ever televised Christmas message in 1957.

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1960s

Image Source: Getty / Keystone

The queen with her growing family at Balmoral in 1960.

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Image Source: Getty / Derek Berwin

Pregnant with Prince Edward in 1963.

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Image Source: Getty / Hulton Archive

The queen allowed TV cameras behind palace walls for the 1969 documentary Royal Family.

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1970s

Image Source: Getty / Fox Photos

On the balcony of Buckingham Palace at her Silver Jubilee in 1977.

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Image Source: Getty / Hulton Archive

With her first grandchild, Peter Phillips, in 1977.

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Image Source: Getty / Anwar Hussein

With Margaret Thatcher — the UK's first female prime minister — in 1979.

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1980s

Image Source: Getty / Tim Graham

Her relationship with Princess Diana was strained.

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Image Source: Getty / Anwar Hussein

A historic event: 1982 saw the first UK visit by a pope in 450 years.

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Image Source: Getty / Anwar Hussein

With the new second in line to the throne; Prince William's christening in 1982.

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Image Source: Getty / Anwar Hussein

A landmark visit to China in 1986 — the first for a reigning British monarch.

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1990s

Image Source: Getty / Tim Graham

Witnessing the fire damage at Windsor Castle in 1992.

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Image Source: Getty / WALTER DHLADHLA

Celebrating South Africa's reentry to the commonwealth following the end of apartheid with Nelson Mandela in 1995.

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Image Source: Getty / JOHN STILLWELL

Walking among the floral tributes outside Buckingham Palace following the death of Diana in 1997.

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Image Source: Getty / Tim Graham

Emotional at the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia in 1997.

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Image Source: Getty / Sion Touhig

Celebrating her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

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2000s

Image Source: Getty / Anwar Hussein

Welcoming in the millennium at midnight with a kiss from Prince Philip.

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Image Source: Getty / Pool/Tim Graham Picture Library

Visiting a UK mosque for the first time in 2002.

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Image Source: Getty / Pool

Celebrating her son Prince Charles's marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles in 2005.

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2010s

Image Source: Getty / Oli Scarff

A historic first visit to Ireland in 2011.

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Image Source: Getty / WPA Pool

William and Kate's wedding in 2011.

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Image Source: Getty / WPA Pool

With Barack Obama, the first African-American US president, in 2011.

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Image Source: Getty / LEON NEAL

Celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

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Image Source: Getty / Pool

Attending the opening ceremony for the Olympic Games in 2012.

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Image Source: Getty / Danny Martindale

The queen with the first, second, and third in line to the throne at Trooping the Colour 2015.

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Image Source: Getty / Max Mumby/Indigo

On the day Queen Elizabeth II became the longest reigning monarch in British history, Sept. 9, 2015.

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