100 Photos of Queen Elizabeth That Capture Her Exceptional Life

Getty | Bettmann

Over the decades, Queen Elizabeth II became a cultural icon, not just in the eyes of her British and Commonwealth subjects, but for the entire world. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral on Sept. 8 with family members by her side at the age of 96, but her legacy lives on.

With a life in the public eye, she's always managed to be graceful, colorful (literally), and sometimes downright funny. Here, we look back on some of the most memorable moments from her life and reign. From formal events full of royal glamour to state events to more candid moments and priceless expressions, we've rounded up 100 of our favorite royal pictures to celebrate the Queen's life.

01
Princess Elizabeth weds Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.
Getty | Hulton-Deutsch

Princess Elizabeth weds Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.

02
Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on their honeymoon in 1947.
Getty | Tim Graham

Princess Elizabeth and Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on their honeymoon in 1947.

03
Princess Elizabeth plays tag on board the HMS Vanguard in 1947.
Getty | Bettmann

Princess Elizabeth plays tag on board the HMS Vanguard in 1947.

04
Princess Elizabeth with her daughter, Princess Anne, in 1951
Getty | Bettmann

Princess Elizabeth with her daughter, Princess Anne, in 1951

05
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip picnicking in 1953.
Getty | Bettmann

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip picnicking in 1953.

06
Queen Elizabeth II visits Melbourne, Australia, in 1954.
Getty | Hulton Archive

Queen Elizabeth II visits Melbourne, Australia, in 1954.

08
Queen Elizabeth II presents the Wimbledon trophy to Althea Gibson in 1957.
Getty | Bettmann

Queen Elizabeth II presents the Wimbledon trophy to Althea Gibson in 1957.

09
Queen Elizabeth II inspects the Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment in 1956.
Getty | Fox Photos

Queen Elizabeth II inspects the Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment in 1956.

10
Queen Elizabeth II drives to a polo match in 1958.
Getty | Bob Haswell

Queen Elizabeth II drives to a polo match in 1958.

11
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and one of their corgis at Windsor Castle in 1959.
Getty | Bettmann

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and one of their corgis at Windsor Castle in 1959.

12
Queen Elizabeth with Prince Philip and their children, Andrew, Anne, & Charles, on a picnic in 1960.
Getty | Bettmann

Queen Elizabeth with Prince Philip and their children, Andrew, Anne, & Charles, on a picnic in 1960.

Queen Elizabeth with Prince Philip and their children, Andrew, Anne, and Charles, on a picnic in 1960.

13
Queen Elizabeth II visits Ghana in 1960.
Getty | Bettmann

Queen Elizabeth II visits Ghana in 1960.

15
Queen Elizabeth II opens the Snape Maltings Concert Hall in 1967.
Getty | Peter Dunne

Queen Elizabeth II opens the Snape Maltings Concert Hall in 1967.

16
Queen Elizabeth II reading papers on a plane in 1969.
Getty | Bettmann

Queen Elizabeth II reading papers on a plane in 1969.

17
Queen Elizabeth II with her corgis in 1969.
Getty | STF

Queen Elizabeth II with her corgis in 1969.

18
Queen Elizabeth II on holiday at Balmoral in 1974.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II on holiday at Balmoral in 1974.

19
Queen Elizabeth II tours Luxembourg in 1975.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II tours Luxembourg in 1975.

20
Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor in 1975.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor in 1975.

22
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, and Prince Charles watch Princess Anne in the Montreal Olympics in 1976.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Andrew, and Prince Charles watch Princess Anne in the Montreal Olympics in 1976.

23
Prince Philip holds an umbrella for Queen Elizabeth II in Canada in 1976.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Prince Philip holds an umbrella for Queen Elizabeth II in Canada in 1976.

24
Queen Elizabeth II toasts with US President Gerald Ford in 1976.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II toasts with US President Gerald Ford in 1976.

25
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in Fiji in 1977.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in Fiji in 1977.

26
Queen Elizabeth II (right) with Princess Anne and Peter Phillips in 1977.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II (right) with Princess Anne and Peter Phillips in 1977.

27
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip prepare to meet Pope John Paul II in 1980.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip prepare to meet Pope John Paul II in 1980.

29
Queen Elizabeth II in San Diego in 1983.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II in San Diego in 1983.

30
Queen Elizabeth II with US President Ronald Reagan in 1983.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II with US President Ronald Reagan in 1983.

31
Queen Elizabeth II attends a polo match in 1985.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II attends a polo match in 1985.

32
Queen Elizabeth with Prince William and Prince Harry.
Getty | Tim Graham

Queen Elizabeth with Prince William and Prince Harry.

33
Queen Elizabeth II with her family at Trooping the Colour in 1989.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II with her family at Trooping the Colour in 1989.

34
Queen Elizabeth II tours Budapest in 1993.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II tours Budapest in 1993.

36
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave a Garter ceremony in 1999.
Getty | Martyn Hayhow

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip leave a Garter ceremony in 1999.

37
Queen Elizabeth II watches a polo match in 2000.
Getty | Hugh Philpott

Queen Elizabeth II watches a polo match in 2000.

38
Queen Elizabeth II takes photos of Prince Philip in 2002.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth II takes photos of Prince Philip in 2002.

39
Queen Elizabeth II reviews papers on her train in 2002.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II reviews papers on her train in 2002.

40
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William in 2003.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William in 2003.

41
Queen Elizabeth II at a visit to The Royal Veterinary College in 2003.
Getty | Kirsty Wigglesworth

Queen Elizabeth II at a visit to The Royal Veterinary College in 2003.

43
Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Harry and Prince Andrew in 2005.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Harry and Prince Andrew in 2005.

44
Queen Elizabeth II reacts at the Braemar Gathering in 2006.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II reacts at the Braemar Gathering in 2006.

45
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate their diamond anniversary in 2007.
Getty | Tim Graham

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate their diamond anniversary in 2007.

46
Queen Elizabeth II watches at the Braemar Gathering in 2007.
Getty | Jeff J Mitchell

Queen Elizabeth II watches at the Braemar Gathering in 2007.

47
Queen Elizabeth II with her husband and children in 2007.
Getty | Tim Graham

Queen Elizabeth II with her husband and children in 2007.

48
Queen Elizabeth II visits America to commemorate the Jamestown settlement in 2007.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II visits America to commemorate the Jamestown settlement in 2007.

50
Queen Elizabeth II takes in a Slovakian hockey game in 2008.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II takes in a Slovakian hockey game in 2008.

51
Queen Elizabeth II at Ravenswood Village in 2008.
Getty | Paul Edwards

Queen Elizabeth II at Ravenswood Village in 2008.

52
Queen Elizabeth II visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi in 2010.
Getty | John Stillwell

Queen Elizabeth II visits the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi in 2010.

53
Queen Elizabeth watches polo in 2010.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth watches polo in 2010.

54
Queen Elizabeth II wears 3D glasses at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Center in 2010.
Getty | John Giles

Queen Elizabeth II wears 3D glasses at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Center in 2010.

55
Queen Elizabeth II addresses the United Nations General Assembly in 2010.
Getty | Mario Tama

Queen Elizabeth II addresses the United Nations General Assembly in 2010.

57
Queen Elizabeth II visits Goodenough College in 2011.
Getty | Anthony Devlin

Queen Elizabeth II visits Goodenough College in 2011.

58
Queen Elizabeth II visits Prince William at RAF Valley in 2011.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth II visits Prince William at RAF Valley in 2011.

59
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.
Getty | Dave Thompson

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attend the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2011.

60
Queen Elizabeth II adjust her hat and talks to US President Barack Obama in 2011.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II adjust her hat and talks to US President Barack Obama in 2011.

61
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2012.
Getty | Phil Noble

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Cambridge in 2012.

62
The Olympic torch visits Windsor Castle in 2012.
Getty | David Bebber

The Olympic torch visits Windsor Castle in 2012.

64
Queen Elizabeth II opens the Paralympic Games in London in 2012.
Getty | Dan Kitwood

Queen Elizabeth II opens the Paralympic Games in London in 2012.

65
Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowds at her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Getty | Oli Scarff

Queen Elizabeth II waves to the crowds at her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

66
Queen Elizabeth II attends "War Horse" at the National Theatre in 2013.
Getty | Lefteris Pitarakis

Queen Elizabeth II attends "War Horse" at the National Theatre in 2013.

67
Queen Elizabeth II gives her Commonwealth Day address in 2013.
Getty | Lewis Whyld

Queen Elizabeth II gives her Commonwealth Day address in 2013.

68
Queen Elizabeth II visits the "Game of Thrones" set in 2014.
Getty | Jonathan Porter

Queen Elizabeth II visits the "Game of Thrones" set in 2014.

69
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip share a laugh in 2014.
Getty | Leon Neal

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip share a laugh in 2014.

71
Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Hollande share a toast in 2014.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II and French President Francois Hollande share a toast in 2014.

72
Queen Elizabeth II visits the Tower of London in 2014.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II visits the Tower of London in 2014.

73
Queen Elizabeth II visits Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2015.
Getty | Ben Stansall

Queen Elizabeth II visits Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2015.

74
Queen Elizabeth II watches a horse race in 2015.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II watches a horse race in 2015.

75
Queen Elizabeth II greets Prince Harry in 2015.
Getty | WPA Pool

Queen Elizabeth II greets Prince Harry in 2015.

76
Queen Elizabeth II and German President Joachim Gauck watch robots at Berlin's University of Technology in 2015.
Getty | Arthur Edwards

Queen Elizabeth II and German President Joachim Gauck watch robots at Berlin's University of Technology in 2015.

78
Queen Elizabeth II greets German children in 2015.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II greets German children in 2015.

79
Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning monarch in British history in 2015.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II becomes the longest reigning monarch in British history in 2015.

80
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William share a laugh in 2015.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William share a laugh in 2015.

81
Queen Elizabeth II visits the Royal Academy of Arts in 2016.
Getty | Danny Martindale

Queen Elizabeth II visits the Royal Academy of Arts in 2016.

82
Queen Elizabeth II attends an exhibit opening at the London Zoo in 2016.
Getty | Samir Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II attends an exhibit opening at the London Zoo in 2016.

83
Queen Elizabeth II with her family and heirs in 2016.
Getty | Dominic Lipinski

Queen Elizabeth II with her family and heirs in 2016.

85
Queen Elizabeth II attends a national service of thanksgiving for her 90th birthday in 2016.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth II attends a national service of thanksgiving for her 90th birthday in 2016.

86
Queen Elizabeth II reviews The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in 2017.
Getty | Samir Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II reviews The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in 2017.

87
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip feed an elephant in 2017.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip feed an elephant in 2017.

88
Queen Elizabeth II enjoys Royal Ascot in 2017.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth II enjoys Royal Ascot in 2017.

89
Queen Elizabeth II attends the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth II attends the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

90
Queen Elizabeth II with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Mersey Gateway Bridge in 2018.
Getty | Samir Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at Mersey Gateway Bridge in 2018.

92
Queen Elizabeth II delivers her 2018 Christmas address.
Getty | John Stillwell

Queen Elizabeth II delivers her 2018 Christmas address.

93
Queen Elizabeth II celebrates Commonwealth Day in 2019.
Getty | Jack Taylor

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates Commonwealth Day in 2019.

94
Queen Elizabeth II's 2019 reception for the 100th anniversary of the National Council For Voluntary Organizations.
Getty | Jonathan Brady

Queen Elizabeth II's 2019 reception for the 100th anniversary of the National Council For Voluntary Organizations.

95
Queen Elizabeth II visits King's College in 2019.
Getty | Max Mumby

Queen Elizabeth II visits King's College in 2019.

96
Queen Elizabeth II feeds a horse at Manor Farm Stables in 2019.
Getty | Anwar Hussein

Queen Elizabeth II feeds a horse at Manor Farm Stables in 2019.

97
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles during the State Opening of Parliament in 2019.
Getty | WPA Pool

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles during the State Opening of Parliament in 2019.

99
Queen Elizabeth looks at Golden and Platinum Jubilee memorabilia in February 2022.
Getty | Steve Parsons-WPA Pool

Queen Elizabeth looks at Golden and Platinum Jubilee memorabilia in February 2022.

100
Queen Elizabeth at Sandringham House in February 2022.
Getty | Chris Jackson

Queen Elizabeth at Sandringham House in February 2022.