Queen Elizabeth Then and Now: See the Royal's Transformation

Late monarch Queen Elizabeth had an incredible transformation during her reign. She was the longest-reigning monarch in British history and accomplished so much throughout her 70 years of life on the throne. The royal family announced her death at age 96 on September 8, 2022.

“The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon,” the statement read. “The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.”

Even before she ascended many decades ago, Elizabeth — who was born on April 21, 1926 — worked her way toward becoming the Queen of the United Kingdom. From her royal wedding to late husband Prince Philip in 1947, her coronation in 1953 and the births of her four children, she proved to be one of the most regal royals out there.

Before her death, the Queen began to focus on the later stages of her life, which included transitioning out of her role. A source close to the royal family exclusively told Closer Weekly that Elizabeth was preparing Duchess Kate (née Middleton) for the throne ever since her 2011 marriage to Prince William.

As royal admirers know, the queen’s grandson the Duke of Cambridge is second in line to the throne behind his dad, Prince Charles. Because the Duchess of Cambridge will stand as queen consort alongside her husband one day, “Kate’s learning all the ins and outs,” the source shared in February 2020.

“The queen admires her professionalism, commitment and ability to take royal life in stride without getting flustered,” the insider continued. In order to groom Kate for the role, the royal icon was giving her granddaughter-in-law some insider advice while spending extra time together.

“Elizabeth has told Kate never to speak in public about any drama surrounding the family,” the source explained. “Instead, the palace always communicates through statements that should be short and factual … Kate has learned a great deal.”

Considering the gorgeous duchess is learning all about being a leader from the queen herself, it’s no surprise the source dished Elizabeth couldn’t have been prouder of her future successor. “She is impressed by the way Kate has grown into her role,” the insider told Closer.

Kate, as well as the rest of the royal family, has stepped up in general in recent years, especially as Prince Philip struggled with health issues since late 2019. Sadly, Philip died at age 99 in April 2021, which was announced by the royal family in an emotional statement on Twitter.

Her majesty released a statement on her April 21st birthday, thanking fans all around the world for sharing “many messages of good wishes” amid the “period of great sadness.”

“It has been a comfort to us all to see and to hear the tributes paid to my husband, from those within the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth and around the world,” her statement read. “My family and I would like to thank you for all the support and kindness shown to us in recent days. We have been deeply touched, and continue to be reminded that Philip had such an extraordinary impact on countless people throughout his life.”

To see the queen’s gorgeous transformation through the years, keep scrolling below.