43 vintage photos of Queen Elizabeth II before she became Queen
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the United Kingdom's longest reigning monarch, having ascended the throne in 1952 at age 25. Following the sad news of her passing at the age of 96, here are some snapshots of what her life was like before her coronation.
1926: Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is born
Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York was born on April 21, 1926. She’s pictured here with her mother, Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, who was the wife of Prince Albert “Bertie” of York. Since Bertie was the second-born son of the reigning monarch, King George V, no one, and least of all the princess, herself, had any clue Elizabeth would one day be queen. Here, she’s just a sweet firstborn daughter of the “spare” heir.
A mum, a dad and a newborn princess
When Prince Albert (called “Bertie” by his friends and family) married Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon, the two became the Duke and Duchess of York. Here, the Duke and Duchess are pictured with their newborn, Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth of York.
1927: Lilibet at 14 months
When Princess Elizabeth was learning to speak, she had trouble pronouncing her name, referring to herself as “Lilibet,” and the name stuck. Lilibet was a happy and friendly child and the darling of her grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary. Outgoing and plucky, Lilibet was one of the few people on the planet who wasn’t intimidated by the man she called “Grandpa England,” whom she led by his beard as if he were a horse, according to TIME.
Just out of the terrible twos
In this sweet family portrait from 1929, the Duke of York smiles at his toddler daughter, who sits on her mum’s lap.
Daddy’s in military garb; a princess salutes
In this photo taken the summer of 1931, the Duke exits the car in military garb after his wife and daughter, while Princess Elizabeth salutes members of the military.
1932: Still a cosy, normal childhood
Arriving at the Royal Tournament in 1932, Princess Elizabeth was dressed like the proper princess that she was, but she generally lived a quiet life outside the spotlight. Until the birth of her sister, Princess Margaret Ann, she played with the children of businessmen and doctors, as opposed to the children of royals. Princess Margaret was a playful influence on her sister, who was, as is often the case with older siblings, more conscientious and responsible.
Playing house
In their childhood, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret had an adorable miniature house that was a gift from the people of Wales. In this 1933 photo, the two princesses pose with their pups and their parents outside the tiny house.
The Princess bridesmaid
Young Princess Elizabeth was a bridesmaid at the November 1934 wedding of Prince George, Duke of Kent (a younger brother of George) to Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. Elizabeth is pictured here with her dad, the Duke of York, but what’s most notable about this photo is that it was taken the same day Elizabeth first met her future husband, Philip Mountbatten, who was Prince of Greece and Denmark at the time.
Kids Day at the Horse Show
The Duke and Duchess of York and Princess Elizabeth arrive at the Richmond Horse Show for an array of Children’s Day events on June 14, 1935.
A family portrait from 1936
As it turned out, 1936 would be an especially important year for this family, though they couldn’t have known it at the moment this photo was snapped. Earlier that year, King George V had died, and his firstborn son, King Edward VIII, had ascended to the throne. But it wasn’t to last.
Everything was about to change
Pictured with two of her Corgis in 1936, Princess Elizabeth likely has little awareness of the constitutional crisis brewing as a result of King Edward VIII’s romance with the still-married, once-divorced American, Wallis Simpson. Her divorce, among other things, made her an inappropriate king’s “consort,” but Edward declared his intention to marry her and make her his queen. By the end of 1936, Edward would abdicate after learning the British people wouldn’t be able to support their King’s marriage to a divorcee, leaving Elizabeth’s father, Bertie, as King (King George VI) and Elizabeth as the presumptive heir. One thing that hasn’t changed, even today? Elizabeth’s love of Corgis.
A newly crowned King and his family
This photo was taken on the balcony of Buckingham Palace just after the coronation of King George VI on May 12, 1937. From left to right, we see the new Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, the Dowager Queen Mary, Princess Margaret, and the newly crowned King.
New King, Queen and heir presumptive
When this photo was taken in 1937, King George VI had just recently ascended the throne. Princess Elizabeth was now the heir presumptive. That isn’t the same thing as an heir apparent; there was still the theoretical possibility that the King would father a male child and, in those days, a younger brother would have taken Elizabeth’s place in the line of succession. This rule, known as “male primogeniture,” ended during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
The future Queen and her sister at play
Princess Margaret famously expressed her “sympathy” for what lay ahead of her dear older sister.
A day at the theatre
King George VI, accompanied by his wife, Queen Elizabeth, and their daughter, Princess Elizabeth, arrive at the Coliseum Theatre in London for a charity matinee on March 27, 1938.
Not the cheap seats
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Elizabeth are seen attending the theatre on March 27, 1939, to benefit The King George VI Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses.
The royal wave
On June 22, 1939, the royal family, having just returned from their royal Canadian tour, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
A visit to Dartmouth Naval College
In this photo, taken during a July 1939 visit to Dartmouth Naval College, Princess Elizabeth plants a tree while her father looks on and holds the hand of Elizabeth’s younger sister, Princess Margaret.
A photo of the King taking a photo
At an August 1939 event at Abergeldie Castle, which is not far from Scotland’s Balmoral Castle, King George VI, wearing a kilt, holds a camera to his face. He was an avid photographer, a hobby Queen Elizabeth II adopted.
Elizabeth as a lover of animals
Queen Elizabeth II was one of, if not the, most famous animal lovers in the world. Here she’s seen in 1939 feeding one of the elephants at the London Zoo. Later in life, Elizabeth received one as a gift from the President of Cameroon in 1972.
A closely-knit family
This photo, taken in 1942, shows the royal family, including Princess Elizabeth, 16, doing some knitting for the British troops.
All the pretty horses
Queen Elizabeth started riding at age three and owned many horses throughout her life. Here she is in 1943, at age 17, with one of her many horses during Harvest Time at Sandringham in Norfolk.
A princess’s first tour
On April 4, 1944, Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, and King George VI stood in a scout car during an inspection of royal artillery units. It was Princess Elizabeth’s first full-length tour with her parents.
The heir presumptive turns 18
The 18th birthday of an heir (apparent or presumptive) signifies the heir could become monarch at any time without the need for a regent to act on his/her behalf. Here, Elizabeth answers a telephone greeting on her 18th birthday, April 21, 1944.
Young Elizabeth follows in her father’s footsteps
In this photo of the royal family taken on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in 1945, Princess Elizabeth wears a military uniform, following in the footsteps of her dad.
1945: A Princess does her military duty
It took a lot of cajoling, but eventually, Elizabeth got her father, King George VI to agree to allow her to join the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service during World War II, for which she donned coveralls and trained as a mechanic and truck driver and was known as “Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor.” According to History, the Queen is the only female royal family member to have entered the armed forces. She may also be the only royal female who can change a spark plug.
A laugh between Dad and daughter
Here, we see the king sharing a laugh with his oldest daughter in 1946.
The Princess does her duty for fashion
The current Princesses of the United Kingdom are not the first to have been on almost constant style-watch. Here, Princess Elizabeth is pictured in 1946 modelling what can only be described as a truly fabulous, fashion-forward hat.
1947: A future Queen’s promise
On April 21, 1947, on the occasion of her 21st birthday, Princess Elizabeth announces her intention to serve as Queen for life (when the time comes) and promises her loyalty and faithfulness in serving. Some say this speech was her commitment to never abdicate.
Meet the (royal) family
In 1947, Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, RN, asked Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth for her hand in marriage. She accepted. This photo was specially posed by the royal family in connection with the upcoming wedding.
Later that same day…
The royal family sat for a more intimate photo, just the four of them.
Pre-wedding jitters?
The bride-to-be, Princess Elizabeth, emerges from her carriage as King George VI looks on. The wedding day had some hiccups, which includes the “tiara incident” that occurred just before this photo was taken.
Wedding day
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten were married at Westminster Abbey. To marry Elizabeth, Philip, who was born into the royal families of Greece and Denmark, had to renounce his birth titles (Prince of Greece and Denmark). In return, his father-in-law-to-be created him Duke of Edinburgh, Baron Greenwich, and Earl of Merioneth.
Post-royal wedding photo
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth married the Duke of Edinburgh (previously Philip Mountbatten, the former Prince of Greece and Denmark). Here, the future Queen stands between her father, King George VI, and her husband, who is chatting amiably with his new mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth; next to her is the dowager Queen Mary.
1948: The pregnant Princess Elizabeth
During the summer of 1948, Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret, are snapped arriving at Ballater Station en route to Balmoral for a family vacation (or “holiday,” as they say in England). At this time, Elizabeth is six months pregnant with her first child, Prince Charles.
Meet His Royal Highness, Prince Charles
HRH Prince Charles was born at Buckingham Palace on November 14, 1948. In this photo, we see four generations of the royal family: the newborn Prince Charles; Prince Charles’s mother, then-Princess Elizabeth (holding Charles); Elizabeth’s father, King George VI; and King George VI’s mother, the dowager Queen Mary.
Grandpa’s pride and joy
King George VI watches as Princess Elizabeth assists baby Prince Charles as he walks in early 1950. Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth stand to the right, gazing at the future Prince of Wales.
1950: The Princess and her toddler
In September 1950, Princess Elizabeth is seen with Prince Charles, age 2, on the train on their way to visit her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral in Scotland.
A family photo from Scotland
In this photo taken on the grounds of Balmoral Castle in Scotland in late summer 1951, King George VI is on the far left and Queen Elizabeth is on the right; in the centre are Princess Elizabeth, her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and young Prince Charles, who is sitting on the deer sculpture. Princess Margaret is in the background.
1951: Princess Elizabeth and her baby daughter
Princess Anne is the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Born Her Royal Highness Princess Anne Elizabeth Alice Louise of Edinburgh on August 15, 1950, Anne will later become Princess Royal, a title the monarch may bestow on his/her eldest daughter.
The Princess cuts a rug
In 1951, during the Royal Tour, which she went on in place of her ailing father, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth dances a traditional Canadian square dance at Government House, Ottowa.
A last look at the Princess
On February 2, 1952, Colonel Mervyn Cowie opens the visitor’s book for Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh to sign upon their arrival at Nairobi National Park for a tour, during which they slept in a hotel built as a treehouse. Philip is chatting in the background with Cowie’s daughter, Mitzie. Four days later, King George VI would be dead, and the Princess would ascend the throne as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Long live the Queen
On February 7, 1952, Elizabeth, made her first appearance on English soil as Her Majesty, the Queen. She wore black because she was mourning the death of her father, King George VI. He had passed away two days earlier.
This article by Lauren Cahn first appeared on Reader's Digest and is reproduced here with permission.
Images: HISTORIA/SHUTTERSTOCK