Queen Elizabeth will celebrate her 87th birthday on April 21 and what a life she’s had so far.
Princess Elizabeth was just 25 years old when she got a call that would change her life. Her father, King George VI, had died and she was now Queen of England.
More than 60 years have passed since that fateful day and Elizabeth is still devoted to her people, carrying out numerous public engagements every year.
The Queen will mark her birthday privately at Windsor Castle, ahead of the official celebrations in London in June.
Elizabeth days after her father’s death made her queen in February 1952.
Princess Elizabeth with her parents in 1929.
Princess Elizabeth in 1933.
Princess Elizabeth with her famous corgis in 1936.
Elizabeth and Margaret at their father’s coronation in 1937.
Princess Elizabeth with her new pony in 1939.
Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as girl guides in 1942.
Elizabeth and Philip announcing their engagement in 1947.
Elizabeth and Philip on their wedding day in 1947.
The queen and Prince Philip on their honeymoon in 1947.
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The queen with her first child, Charles, in 1948.
The queen and Prince Philip at a barn dance in Canada in 1951.
The queen with Charles and Anne in 1952.
Elizabeth, Philip, Charles and Anne in 1951.
Elizabeth with her son Prince Charles at Balmoral in 1952.
Elizabeth days after her father’s death made her queen in February 1952.
Elizabeth shortly after she took the throne in 1952.
The queen with Prince Charles and Princess Anne in September 1952.
The queen giving her first Christmas broadcast on December 25, 1952.
The queen and Prince Philip after her coronation in 1953.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip during their first visit to Australia in 1954.
The queen rides the London Underground to mark the opening of the Victoria Line in 1969.
Elizabeth crowns Charles the Prince of Wales in July 1969.
The queen at Prince Charles wedding to Princess Diana.
Queen Elizabeth clutching flowers from wellwishers in Brisbane in 1982.
Queen Elizabeth greets fans in Sydney in 2006.
The queen at Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in April 2011.
The queen riding a Melbourne tram in October 2011.
Queen Elizabeth in Australia in 2011.
Queen Elizabeth meets Julia Gillard in Canberra in 2011.
Queen Elizabeth in Perth in October 2011.
Elizabeth during the Diamond Jubilee pageant.
Boarding the royal barge for the Diamond Jubilee pageant.
Elizabeth celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in June 2012.
Elizabeth during her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June 2012.
Elizabeth celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in June 2012.
Elizabeth celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in June 2012.
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