Queen Elizabeth’s Iconic Transformation: Photos of the Late Monarch Through the Years

June 1927

The future Queen is pictured in one of her first portraits.

November 1934

You might not know this, but Elizabeth actually met her real-life Prince Charming when she was just 8 years old! The queen was introduced to the cousin of the bride, Philip Mountbatten — who was just 13 — when they both separately attended the royal wedding of Prince George and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.

May 1937

Elizabeth, known as Princess Elizabeth at the time, can be seen posing with her newly-coronated father, King George VI, her mother, Queen Elizabeth, and her sister, Princess Margaret. The royal family looked as regal as ever in their official coronation robes.

April 1940

Elizabeth was just 14 years old when this family portrait was taken of her, father George, mother Elizabeth and sister Margaret.

January 1947

Almost 13 years since meeting for the first time, Elizabeth and Philip — who was the future Duke of Edinburgh at the time — announced their engagement at Buckingham Palace.

November 1947

On the day of the royal wedding on November 20, 1947, the stunning bride wore a floral-embellished satin dress designed by Norman Hartnell. Elizabeth paired her gorgeous wedding gown with a flashy diamond tiara and a 13-foot veil with a star design.

November 1948

Barely even three months after their nuptials, Elizabeth — who was still a princess at the time — became pregnant with her and Philip’s first child. On November 14, 1948, Elizabeth and her husband welcomed their first royal child, Charles.

Following his arrival, lookers waited outside Buckingham Palace to read the official bulletin that announced the birth of Charles.

August 1950

Four years later on August 15, 1950, Philip and Elizabeth expanded their brood with royal baby No. 2. The proud parents welcomed their first daughter, Anne.

June 1953

At just 25 years old and as a mother of two, Elizabeth was coronated as the Queen of England on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey after ascending to the throne upon her father’s death on February 6, 1952.

She waved to the crowds of people from the balcony at Buckingham Palace following the coronation.

March 1960

Charles admired his baby brother, Prince Andrew, shortly after parents Elizabeth and Philip welcomed him on February 19, 1960.

March 1964

Three years after becoming queen, Buckingham Palace announced that Elizabeth and Philip’s final child, Prince Edward, was born on March 11, 1964.

“The Queen has had a comfortable night. Her Majesty and the baby are both well,” the birth notice read outside the palace.

July 1969

Elizabeth led the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle in North Wales in July 1969. Charles was just 19 years old at the time.

August 1972

Old photos from August 1972 shows Elizabeth, Philip, Anne, Charles, Edward and Andrew smiling and posing for the family portrait. So regal!

November 1973

Anne tied the knot with her first husband, Mark Phillips, on November 14, 1973. Elizabeth wore a gorgeous blue ensemble for the special day.

November 1977

Elizabeth admired Anne and her first grandson, Peter Phillips, after he was born on November 15, 1977. Peter married Autumn Phillips in 2008 and divorced in 2021. They share their two children, daughters Savannah Phillips and Isla Phillips.

May 1981

Anne welcomed her second child, Zara Phillips, on May 15, 1981. Besides being a member of the British royal family, Zara is also an equestrian, Olympian and mom of daughters Mia Grace Tindall and Lena Elizabeth Tindall with her former English rugby star husband Mike Tindall.

July 1981

Elizabeth celebrated her first son’s highly anticipated royal wedding to Lady Diana Frances Spencer, who then became Diana, Princess of Wales. The proud mother donned a gorgeous light blue monochromatic dress suit she paired with a matching hat. 

June 1982

Grandchild No. 3! Charles and Diana became parents after they welcomed their first royal child, son William, on June 21, 1982.

June 1983

The queen can be seen saluting her guards at the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony outside Buckingham Palace in June 1983. Back in the day, Elizabeth would ride in on horses. In her later years, she made her arrival in a horse-drawn carriage.

September 1984

William gets a little brother! Diana and Charles welcomed their second child and the queen’s third grandchild, Prince Harry, on September 16, 1984.

July 1986

Elizabeth and Philip’s son Andrew tied the knot in an incredible royal wedding in July 1986. The queen celebrated her son’s nuptials to Sarah Ferguson, who became Sarah, Duchess of York, as they waved to the crowds of people on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the lavish ceremony.

August 1988

Fergie and Andrew welcomed their first child and the queen’s fourth grandchild. On August 8, 1988, Princess Beatrice of York was born.

March 1990

Royal baby No. 2! Andrew and Fergie became parents again after the arrival of Princess Eugenie of York on March 23, 1990.

December 1992

After divorcing her first husband, Mark, Anne remarried now-husband Timothy Laurence during a ceremony on December 12, 1992.

August 1997

Although the previous years brought along joy and babies, 1997 brought a lot of heartbreak to the royal family. In August 1997, Elizabeth mourned the loss of Diana, who tragically died after a car accident in Paris at the age of 36. The queen looked broken-hearted as she attended the funeral.

June 1999

Elizabeth looked stunning in her purple gown as she celebrated the royal wedding between her youngest child, Prince Edward, and his bride, Sophie Rhys-Jones. Edward and Sophie ultimately became the parents to daughter Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn.

April 2005

Nearly seven years following Diana’s death, Charles remarried his now-wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, in April 2005. Elizabeth and other members of the family smiled for a formal portrait with the family at Windsor Castle.

April 2011

Elizabeth celebrated a grandchild’s royal wedding on April 29, 2011. The beloved monarch wore a yellow monochromatic ensemble as she attended the nuptials between Prince William and Kate Middleton, who became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge upon their marriage.

June 2012

The queen celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, which marked the 60th anniversary of her coronation. To honor the incredible accomplishment, she and her family rode the Royal Barge during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

July 2013

Elizabeth celebrated Kate and William’s first royal baby after he arrived on July 22, 2013. Prince George became Elizabeth’s third great-grandchild!

May 2015

Two years after George’s birth, Will and Kate welcomed their first daughter, Princess Charlotte, on May 2, 2015.

April 2018

A third royal child was celebrated on April 23, 2018, after Prince Louis was welcomed. Louis became Elizabeth’s 7th grandchild — incredible! 

May 2018

Elizabeth and the rest of the royal family celebrated Harry’s royal wedding to Meghan Markle on May 19, 2018.

October 2018

Meghan and Harry weren’t the only ones with a blowout royal wedding in 2018! Months later, the queen’s granddaughter Eugenie got married to her now-husband, Jack Brooksbank. Eugenie’s wedding was immaculate!

May 2019

Elizabeth looked happier than ever while meeting the newest royal baby, Archie. The great-grandmother met the little bundle of joy just days after Meghan and Harry welcomed the little guy on May 6, 2019.

November 2019

Elizabeth was joined by members of the royal family as they attended the remembrance ceremony in London to honor the servicemen and women who lost their lives in war. The queen stood with Kate and Camilla as they commemorated the 101st anniversary of the end of World War I.

February 2020

The queen was all smiles as she paid a visit to the Royal Air Force station and military airbase in the U.K. Elizabeth sported an orange-patterned peacoat and matching hat as she watched aircrews work on a training model. She also inspected the new integrated training center.

April 2020

The iconic monarch donned a beautiful green dress with long sleeves as she made a rare televised speech regarding the coronavirus pandemic. Elizabeth offered some words of comfort as she appeared from her home at Windsor Castle in England.

“I am speaking to you at what I know is an increasingly challenging time. A time of disruption in the life of our country: A disruption that has brought grief to some, financial difficulties to many and enormous changes to the daily lives of us all,” she urged. “I want to thank everyone on the NHS front line, as well as care workers and those carrying out essential roles, who selflessly continue their day-to-day duties outside the home in support of us all. I am sure the nation will join me in assuring you that what you do is appreciated and every hour of your hard work brings us closer to a return to more normal times.”

November 2020

Elizabeth and Philip honored their 73rd wedding anniversary on November 20, 2020. The couple posed for photos in their signature ensembles while marveling over a homemade card their grandchildren George, Charlotte and Louis made in honor of their special day.

Elizabeth’s anniversary with her longtime hubby came weeks before Buckingham Palace announced she canceled her annual Christmas celebration.

Two months earlier in September, a source revealed the royals were considering putting their traditional event on hold in fear “it’ll be very risky.” Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, “royal aides are warning her that it’s not a good idea,” the insider told Closer.

Even though Elizabeth “would love [nothing] more than to see her family reunite,” she understands how serious of a matter this is. “She’s coming up with a plan B,” the source noted. “Some sort of smaller gathering with very close family.”

April 2021

Elizabeth was dressed in an all-black ensemble as she arrived at Windsor Castle for her beloved spouse’s funeral on April 17. The monarch sat alone in a pew during the procession as U.K. regulations stated anyone attending a funeral must stay at least two meters away from others that are not in their household, per The Telegraph.

Philip’s service came eight days after the news of his death was revealed on Twitter. “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,” the royal family’s message read. “His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle.”

February 2022

Two months shy of her 96th birthday, the monarch met with the incoming and outgoing Defense Service Secretaries at Buckingham Palace. She later tested positive for COVID-19, but the palace revealed on February 20 that she was only experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms” and expected to continue “light duties” at Windsor Castle.

September 2022

Elizabeth met with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Balmoral Castle, marking one of her last public appearances before her death.