Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Snapshots of the Queen’s youth as captured on film
Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile
1931: A five-year-old Prince Elizabeth attends the wedding of Lady May Cambridge, great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria in Sussex
Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 having spent almost her entire adult life on the throne.
Her Majesty’s youth was interrupted in 1952 when the death of her father made her head of state of the UK and the Commonwealth while only 25 years old.
By the time of her coronation she was married with two children, and had seen service in the Second World War as a driver and mechanic.
She had also years before sworn to dedicate her life to duty, having known her destiny from the age of 11.
Almost all of her life to the time of her crowning had been spent in Britain. She had left her homeland only a few times, on a handful of the royal visits that would occupy so much of her time in later years.
Cameras followed the Queen throughout her youth. Though she was pictured nowhere near as often as a young royal could expect to be these days, there is no shortage of photographs to chart the early years of the monarch who so many living today knew only as an old woman.
Scroll through the images below to see the Queen in her early years before taking the throne.
The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) with her husband, King George VI (then the Duke of York), and their daughter Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess) at her christening in May 1926
The Christening group of Princess Elizabeth. From left, back row: The Duke of Connaught, King George V, The Duke of York and The Earl Strathmore. Front row: Lady Elphinstone, Queen Mary, The Duchess of York with Princess Elizabeth, the Countess of Strathmore and Princess Mary
A Cecil Beaton portrait of Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace aged 19 in 1946
Aged two, Princess Elizabeth waves to crowds as she arrives back in Piccadilly in 1928
A teenage Princess Elizabeth plays ‘Prince Salvador’ in the Christmas production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at Windsor Castle in December 1942
Princess Elizabeth meets Jan Smuts, prime minister of South Africa while on a tour of the country with her parents and sister
Princess Elizabeth and a Highland Regiment drummer, during a visit to Scotland in 1929
Princess Elizabeth holding a corgi, aged 24 in 1950
Aged six, Princess Elizabeth rides a tricycle in the park
Princess Elizabeth (centre) on an Auxiliary Territorial Service course at Camberley in Surrey early in 1945
Princess Elizabeth, aged seven with two-year-old Princess Margaret
A teenage Princess Elizabeth at Sandringham with one of the horses
Princess Elizabeth in 1949, as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, sits atop Winston, a police horse, in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, during the Trooping fo the Colour to mark King George VI’s 53rd birthday
From left: Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and King George VI after his coronation, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London in May 1937
A wartime picture of Princess Elizabeth (right) and Princess Margaret after they broadcast on ‘Children’s Hour’ from Buckingham Palace in October 1940
The bridesmaids at the wedding of Honourable Patricia Mountbatten and Lord Brabourne. From left: Honourable Patricia Mountbatten, sister of the bride, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at Romsey Abbey
A special 21st birthday picture of Princess Elizabeth poses informally during a visit to the Natal National Park in South Africa
In July 1947, the engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten is announced and the pair are pictured together at Buckingham Palace
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day, 20 November 1947, in London
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip with Viscount and Lady Alexander at a Canadian state dinner in Ottawa
Princess Elizabeth with her two children, Princess Anne and Prince Charles in September 1950
Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism
By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists
{{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}
By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Already have an account? sign in
By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism
By registering, you will also enjoy limited access to Premium articles, exclusive newsletters, commenting, and virtual events with our leading journalists
{{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}}
By clicking ‘Create my account’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Already have an account? sign in
By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use, Cookie policy and Privacy notice.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy policy and Terms of service apply.
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
1931: A five-year-old Prince Elizabeth attends the wedding of Lady May Cambridge, great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria in Sussex
PA
The Queen Mother (then the Duchess of York) with her husband, King George VI (then the Duke of York), and their daughter Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess) at her christening in May 1926
PA
The Christening group of Princess Elizabeth. From left, back row: The Duke of Connaught, King George V, The Duke of York and The Earl Strathmore. Front row: Lady Elphinstone, Queen Mary, The Duchess of York with Princess Elizabeth, the Countess of Strathmore and Princess Mary
PA
A Cecil Beaton portrait of Princess Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace aged 19 in 1946
PA
Aged two, Princess Elizabeth waves to crowds as she arrives back in Piccadilly in 1928
PA
A teenage Princess Elizabeth plays ‘Prince Salvador’ in the Christmas production of ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at Windsor Castle in December 1942
Getty
Princess Elizabeth meets Jan Smuts, prime minister of South Africa while on a tour of the country with her parents and sister
PA
Princess Elizabeth and a Highland Regiment drummer, during a visit to Scotland in 1929
PA
Princess Elizabeth holding a corgi, aged 24 in 1950
PA
Aged six, Princess Elizabeth rides a tricycle in the park
PA
Princess Elizabeth (centre) on an Auxiliary Territorial Service course at Camberley in Surrey early in 1945
PA
Princess Elizabeth, aged seven with two-year-old Princess Margaret
PA
A teenage Princess Elizabeth at Sandringham with one of the horses
AFP/Getty
Princess Elizabeth in 1949, as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, sits atop Winston, a police horse, in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, during the Trooping fo the Colour to mark King George VI’s 53rd birthday
PA
From left: Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and King George VI after his coronation, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London in May 1937
PA
A wartime picture of Princess Elizabeth (right) and Princess Margaret after they broadcast on ‘Children’s Hour’ from Buckingham Palace in October 1940
PA
The bridesmaids at the wedding of Honourable Patricia Mountbatten and Lord Brabourne. From left: Honourable Patricia Mountbatten, sister of the bride, Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at Romsey Abbey
PA
A special 21st birthday picture of Princess Elizabeth poses informally during a visit to the Natal National Park in South Africa
PA
In July 1947, the engagement of Princess Elizabeth to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten is announced and the pair are pictured together at Buckingham Palace
PA
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip on their wedding day, 20 November 1947, in London
Central Press/AFP/Getty
Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip with Viscount and Lady Alexander at a Canadian state dinner in Ottawa
PA
Princess Elizabeth with her two children, Princess Anne and Prince Charles in September 1950
PA
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Log in
New to The Independent?
Or if you would prefer:
Want an ad-free experience?
Hi {{indy.fullName}}