Queen Elizabeth II
(1926-2022), Reigned 1952-2022Sitter associated with 972 portraits
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving British monarch in history. Her devotion to the duty and public service was renowned and she ruled through a period of enormous social change and technological transformation. Her coronation in 1953 was the first to be televised and was broadcast internationally and she is the most portrayed person in the world.
Born in London, Princess Elizabeth became heir to the throne in 1936 on the accession of her father George VI. She married Philip Mountbatten in 1947 and their first children, the then Prince Charles and Princess Anne, were born in 1948 and 1950. Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, whilst on an official trip to Kenya, after the death of her father. Her coronation in 1953 was the first to be televised and was broadcast internationally. Her sons, Princes Andrew and Edward, were born in 1960 and 1964. As Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth, her Silver, Golden, Diamond and Platinum Jubilees were celebrated in 1977, 2002, 2012 and 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; King George VI
by Marcus Adams
bromide print, 2 December 1926
NPG P140(8)
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; Queen Elizabeth II ('Royal Motherhood')
published by Illustrated London News, after John St Helier Lander
colour photogravure, published 22 November 1926 (1926)
NPG D34125
Christening of Queen Elizabeth II
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass negative, 29 May 1926
NPG x32998
'The Duke and Duchess of York photographed with the infant Princess on the day of the christening'
published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1926 (29 May 1926)
NPG x193257
'T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of York and daughter Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary'
by Central News Ltd, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1926 (29 May 1926)
NPG x193258
'A Joyous Reunion. T.R.H. The Duke & Duchess of York with Baby Princess Elizabeth'
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1926-1927
NPG x193259
by Speaight Ltd, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1926 (May 1926)
NPG x193260
by Speaight Ltd, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1926 (May 1926)
NPG x193261
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1926 (2 December 1926)
NPG x193262
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1926 (2 December 1926)
NPG x193263
'H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth, Daughter of T.R.H. Duke & Duchess of York' (Queen Elizabeth II)
by Speaight Ltd, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1926 (May 1926)
NPG x193275
Queen Elizabeth II when Princess Elizabeth of York
by Speaight Ltd
chlorobromide print, May 1926
NPG x199598
by Speaight Ltd
bromide print, May 1926
NPG x199599
'The Princess Elizabeth' (Queen Elizabeth II)
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1927
NPG x138871
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1927 (30 June 1927)
NPG x193264
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1927 (30 June 1927)
NPG x193265
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1927 (30 June 1927)
NPG x193266
'The Princess Elizabeth, Daughter of T.R.H. Duke & Duchess of York' (Queen Elizabeth II)
by Topical Press, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1927
NPG x193276
'The Princess Elizabeth' (Queen Elizabeth II)
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1927
NPG x193143
Queen Elizabeth II; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
by Marcus Adams
bromide print, 5 July 1928
NPG P140(10)
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1928 (5 July 1928)
NPG x193267
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1928 (5 July 1928)
NPG x193268
'The Princess Elizabeth romping with her cousins, George and Gerald Lascelles'
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1928
NPG x193091
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; Queen Elizabeth II; King George VI
by Marcus Adams
bromide print, feigned oval, July 1929
NPG P140(9)
by Marcus Adams
bromide print, 30 July 1929
NPG P140(19)
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; Queen Elizabeth II
by Marcus Adams, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 30 July 1929
NPG x138872
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1929
NPG x193127
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1929
NPG x193128
Marion Crawford; Queen Elizabeth II; Princess Margaret
by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
gelatin silver print, 1930s
NPG x194475
Queen Elizabeth II; Princess Margaret; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
by Marcus Adams
bromide print, 22 June 1931
NPG P140(11)
The Wedding of Lady May Cambridge and Henry Abel Smith
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x31672
The Wedding of Lady May Cambridge and Henry Abel Smith
by Vandyk
10 x 12 inch glass transparency, 24 October 1931
NPG x31678
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x31679
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x31697
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate transparency, 24 October 1931
NPG x31698
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x32582
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x32583
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x32584
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x32585
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x32997
The Wedding of Lady May Cambridge and Henry Abel Smith
by Vandyk
12 x 10 inch glass plate negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x33562
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 1931 (22 June 1931)
NPG x193269
'T.R.H. The Princess Elizabeth and her baby sister The Princess Margaret Rose'
by Pacific & Atlantic Photos Ltd, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1931
NPG x193138
Wedding of Lady May Cambridge & Captain Henry Abel Smith
by Vandyk, published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, 1931 (24 October 1931)
NPG x196942
Queen Elizabeth II; Queen Mary
by Vandyk
whole-plate glass negative, 24 October 1931
NPG x130813
by Elliott & Fry
half-plate negative, 1931
NPG x82050
Princess Margaret; Queen Elizabeth II
by Marcus Adams
bromide print, 1932
NPG P140(14)
Queen Elizabeth II; Princess Margaret
by Frederick Thurston
chlorobromide print, August 1932
NPG x87177
Queen Elizabeth II; Princess Margaret
by Frederick Thurston
chlorobromide print, August 1932
NPG x87178
Queen Elizabeth II; Princess Margaret
by Frederick Thurston
bromide print, August 1932
NPG x87179
Princess Margaret; Queen Elizabeth II
by Frederick Thurston
resin print, August 1932
NPG x87180
by Marcus Adams, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons
bromide postcard print, 15 July 1932
NPG x138873
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1932
NPG x193129
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1932
NPG x193131
'H.R.H. The Duchess of York with her daughters T.R.H. The Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose'
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1933
NPG x193132
'H.R.H. The Duchess of York with her daughters T.R.H. The Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose'
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1933
NPG x193133
'H.R.H. The Princess Elizabeth. Her Royal Highness's Merry Smile' (Queen Elizabeth II)
published by J. Beagles & Co
bromide postcard print, circa 1933
NPG x193144
by Bassano Ltd
bromide postcard print, 1934
NPG x193602
Related People
- Prince Andrew, Duke of York (son)
- Princess Anne (daughter)
- Sir David Bowes-Lyon (uncle)
- Hon. Michael Claude Hamilton Bowes-Lyon (uncle)
- King Charles III (son)
- Lady Sarah Frances Elizabeth Chatto (née Armstrong-Jones) (niece)
- Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (husband)
- Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (King Edward VIII) (uncle)
- Prince Edward Antony Richard Louis, Earl of Wessex (son)
- Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (mother)
- Lady Mary Frances Elphinstone (née Bowes-Lyon) (aunt)
- King George V (grandfather)
- King George VI (father)
- Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (uncle)
- Prince Henry, Duke of Sussex (grandson)
- Princess Margaret (sister)
- Queen Mary (grandmother)
- Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood (aunt)
- David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (nephew)
- (Cecilia) Nina Bowes-Lyon (née Cavendish-Bentinck), Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne (grandmother)
- Claude George Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (grandfather)
- Patrick Bowes-Lyon, 15th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne (uncle)
- William, Prince of Wales (grandson)
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