Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning monarch in British history. Here, we look back at the Queen’s younger years.
The first child of the George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on April 21 1926.
Having ascended to the throne at the tender age of 25 after the passing of her father, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning monarch in British history.
Reigning for 70 years, The Queen lived an extraordinary and interesting life, from being a girl scout to joining the Auxiliary Territorial. Here, we take a look back through Her Royal Majesty’s younger years…
The Queen Young
1 of 15The young fashionista
Even from an early age, the Queen always had a great dress sense, doesn't she look adorable?
2 of 15Corgi cuteness
A fan of dogs all her life, the Queen always had a particular soft spot for corgis and grew up around plenty of them. She owned more than 30 dogs throughout her lifetime.
3 of 15The horserider
She was also a big fan of riding too! Here, she takes her pony for a ride around Windsor Great Park in Berkshire.
4 of 15Sisterly love
The Queen and her younger sister, Princess Margaret, take a ride around the grounds of the Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
5 of 15Wartime broadcast
The young Princess makes her first public speech to the children of the commonwealth during World War II, with her sister, Princess Margaret, joining at the end.
6 of 15Queen as Scout
Before she became Queen of England, Elizabeth was a proud girl scout. Her mother also joined the Girl Guides' Association and later become a patron.
7 of 15Royal Thespians
21st December 1941: Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth during a rehearsal of 'Cinderella', the first Royal pantomime at Windsor Castle. The two princesses are in costume for their parts.
8 of 15The Queen goes on a bike ride
Her Royal Majesty always loved being outdoors, from long walks at Balmoral Castle to horse riding and even going on bike rides. Here, she enjoys a cycle round the Royal Lodge in Windsor.
9 of 15Learning mechanics
Princess Elizabeth gets her hands dirty learning basic car maintenance as a Second Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS). She joined in 1945 and became the first female member of the Royal Family to join the Armed Services as a full-time active member, where she learned how to drive and maintain vehicles.
10 of 15Royal family tour South Africa, 1947
While in South Afirca on their Royal Family Tour in 1947, Princess Elizabeth stepped onboard the Beyer-Garratt locomotive, with her sister and the African Minister of Transport, where she had a go at sounding the boats' whistle. She also celebrated her 21st birthday in South Africa during her Royal Tour. Later, broadcasting a speech from the gardens of Government House in Cape Town where she pledged her service to the British Commonwealth and Empire.
11 of 15A royal engagement
Princess Elizabeth age 21 in the state apartments at Buckingham Palace photographed for the public announcement of her engagement to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in July 1947. Philip actually proposed to her the year before, in Scotland, but Elizabeth's father, King George, insisted they wait until the princess was a bit older.
12 of 15The Royal Wedding, 1947
On 27th November 1947 Princess Elizabeth married the Duke of Edinburgh. The pair had initially met when Elizabeth was eight years old at the wedding of Princess Marina of Greece.
13 of 15The Queen’s Coronation, 1953
Princess Elizabeth was coroneted Queen at Westminster Abbey on 2nd June, 1953. Her dress was made of white satin and embroidered with the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in gold and silver thread. She was 25 years old.
14 of 15Coronation world tour
Five months after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth went on her first overseas tour. She stopped visited Fiji, where she met the Fijian chief who performed a traditional invitation-to-land ceremony, while on board the SS Gothic in Suva Bay.
15 of 15Happy families
The Queen and Prince Philip enjoy a picnic in the grounds of Balmoral Castle with Baby Prince Andrew, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and of course one of their beloved corgis.