Exclusive Photos Of Elizabeth II Before She Sat On The Throne
Queen Elizabeth II is now the longest-reigning British monarch. She's lived in Buckingham Palace for a long time, and over the years, many photographs have been taken of her. It's hard for many of us to remember a time when her majesty Queen Elizabeth II wasn't the queen. She's been in power for over 60 years, and we have over 60 years' worth of pictures of this lady. We are used to seeing Queen Elizabeth as a little old lady in a monochromatic skirt suit, but before she settled on that signature look, she was a little girl growing up in the public eye.
Keep reading to see some super rare photos of a young Queen Elizabeth II. You might just learn some interesting facts about her along the way.
A Camera Shy Lady
Elizabeth II has been in the public eye since she was born, but even so, the queen has always been notoriously camera-shy. This photo was taken when Elizabeth was just ten years old. You can see here that she looks a bit uncomfortable in front of the camera.
Eventually, she got used to the paparazzi, but it took her some time. Now Elizabeth doesn't mind the cameras, but that's because they have been a constant in her life since she was born.
Elizabeth's Royal Duties
Elizabeth took on royal duties long before she was actually coronated as the queen of England. She officially became Queen on February 6, 1952, after her father died. King George VI's health had been in decline since early 1951, though, and Elizabeth often stood in for her father during royal events.
Here, Elizabeth is seen dancing while on a tour of Canada in place of her father in 1951. She would become queen shortly after this photo was taken.
Elizabeth's Signature Corgis
If you know anything about Queen Elizabeth II, you know that she loves her Corgis. As you can see in this photo, Elizabeth has been in love with the Corgi breed for quite some time. She grew up owning Corgis. Her first one was a dog named Dookie that she got in 1933 when she was 7 years old.
Since becoming Queen in 1952, she has owned over 30 corgis. Once, Elizabeth bred one of her Corgis with her sister's Daschund, creating the first-ever Dorgi on record.
She Also Loves Horses
Elizabeth may have been a Corgi lover through and through, but her second love has always been horses. Many members of the royal family are avid equestrians, but Elizabeth took to the sport like a fish to water. She was given her first horse, a Shetland pony named Peggy when she was four-years-old. Here, she's pictured with a pony on her thirteenth birthday.
Now, when getting around via horse, Elizabeth almost always takes a carriage.
She Wasn't That Well-Educated
Through her at-home tutoring, Elizabeth's formal education was lacking in some regards. In a 2007 documentary, historian David Starkey called her, "poorly learned." This quote came under dispute by those around Elizabeth II, who quickly jumped to her defense.
Penny Junor, a biographer for the royal family even shot back that, "The Queen is certainly cultured even if not that moved by the arts. The Prince of Wales has a great sense of history and a lot of that comes from his mother."
She Wanted To Be A Soldier
Elizabeth always wanted to serve her country in a more concrete way. She might look happy in this photo of her in her Girl Guide uniform taken in 1942, but at that time, Elizabeth desperately wanted to be a soldier. She was only 14 when the war broke out and she actually begged her father to let her joint he war effort.
Eventually, Elizabeth was able to convince her father to let her help the British troops.
She Was Almost Assassinated
Elizabeth II may be a beloved queen, but nobody is beloved by everyone. On April 29, 1970, there was a purported assassination attempt of Queen Elizabeth which is now known as the Lithgow Plot.
The would-be assassins targeted Elizabeth while she was on a train with Prince Philip. The men supposedly rolled a large wooden log onto the train track in an attempt to derail the train. The train was moving rather slowly when the log rolled onto the track, so the train wasn't derailed.
She Loves Theatre
Queen Elizabeth II loves watching movies and plays, but you may be surprised to learn that she also has a knack for acting. She was heavily into acting and theatre as a teenager. In this photo, a teenage Princess Elizabeth (middle) is dressed up as the character of Prince Charming for a royal pantomime in 1941.
Elizabeth and her sister, Margaret would put on plays together during wartime to cheer up the troops. What a concept!
She Was Told To Keep Her Engagement Under Wraps
This photo of Elizabeth was taken in 1947 at the official announcement of her engagement to Phillip Mountbatten. The two met when Elizabeth was only 13 and they would exchange letters. Phillip proposed in 1946 when Elizabeth was 20-years-old. Before proposing, he asked King George VI For permission.
King George VI agreed under one condition. News of the engagement could not be made public until Elizabeth turned 21-years-old, so she wouldn't be perceived by the public as too young.
Elizabeth's Secret Nickname
This is a photo of a young Queen Elizabeth and her younger sister Princess Margaret. It was taken in 1933 when Elizabeth was only seven years old.
Elizabeth had trouble pronouncing her own name as a child. To help her out, King George VI gave her the nickname "Lilibet." Some people claim that the royal family still calls the queen "Lilibet" to this day. We don't know if that's true or not, but if it is, it's kind of cute.
A Good Swimmer
Elizabeth (front left) is seen here with her Challenge Cup swimming team. Swimming was one of Elizabeth's first hobbies and passions. She was enrolled in lessons when she was 10 years old and won her first medal the same year. A royal's participation in a sport of "less prestige" inspired many other children in the British Empire to pick up swimming.
Her love of swimming stayed with Elizabeth and when she was coronated, she bestowed her patronage to the British Swimming club.
She Didn't Go To School
Thanks to Princess Diana's choice to enroll Prince William and Prince Harry in school, we're used to seeing the royal children attending schools but that wasn't always the case. Most royal children were homeschooled and Elizabeth was no different. Both she and her sister Margaret were tutored in their home.
Of course, they didn't employ just any tutor. One of Elizabeth's teachers was Henry Marten, who was the vice-provost of the famed Eton College. She also received private religion lessons from none other than the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Traitorous Governess
Elizabeth and her sister were taught primarily by their governess, Marion Crawford. Crawford watched over the girls from birth and only retired when Elizabeth finally married Prince Phillip in 1947. Crawford was responsible for teaching much of Elizabeth's etiquette and even some schooling.
Crawford's legacy took a dark turn though after her retirement when she wrote a tell-all book titled The Little Princesses. She was the first governess to cash in on the royal's private life and as a result, Elizabeth and the Royal Family never talked to Crawford again.
She Celebrated The End Of The War
Before she was queen, Elizabeth had some rare moments where she let loose. Here, she plays tag on top of the HMS Vanguard. Another special moment for her was when WW2 ended on May 8, 1945. She and her sister begged their father to let them celebrate on the streets with the people, and he actually allowed it!
The two snuck out of Buckingham Palace and joined the crowds. In a rare interview, Elizabeth recalled how scared they were of being recognized but being overwhelmed with joy and "personal freedom."
Two Birthday Celebrations
Here, a 15-year-old Elizabeth stands with her mother, also named Elizabeth. The Queen Mother gave birth to Elizabeth on April 21, 1926, but only celebrating on that day wasn't enough. Once she became queen, the royal family deemed April 21 to be too cold for a proper public celebration.
Now, she celebrates her April 21st birthday and another public celebration on the Saturday in June, when it's warmer. The second birthday usually coincides with the Trooping the Color military parade.
How She Served Her Country
Elizabeth was finally old enough to join the war effort in February 1945, just as World War II was ending. She was appointed to the Auxiliary Territorial Service and worked as a truck mechanic. Here, she's learning how to change a car wheel on an armored military vehicle.
To this day, Elizabeth is the only female member of the royal family to have served in the armed forces.
Elizabeth And Margaret's Sibling Rivalry
Elizabeth and her youngest sister Margaret look practically angelic in this portrait from 1940 but in their former governess' tell-all book they still had some sisterly quarrels. According to Marion Crawford, neither Elizabeth or Margaret "was above taking a whack" at each other if they other deserved it.
Crawford even detailed their fighting styles, saying that Elizabeth had a "quick...left hook" and Margaret was a "close-in fighter" who would "bite on occasions."
She Wasn't Always Going To Be Queen
When Elizabeth was born to the Duke and Duchess of York, she stood third in line to the crown. It was her uncle, Edward, who was in line to be king but he famously abdicated the throne after less than a year. That left Elizabeth's father, now King George VI, as the ruler of the British Empire.
Elizabeth had spent the first ten years of her life never expecting to one day be queen. When all of that changed in 1936, she had some serious catching up to do.
Dogs And Horses Together
In this photo, Princess Margaret is seen holding up one of their corgis in front of a horse that Elizabeth is holding the reigns of. Since she was a young girl, Elizabeth has had a keen interest in both of these animals.
Today, the Queen has owned at least 30 corgis, all of whom descended from one of the family's corgis named Susan. Elizabeth received her first horse when she was four and by 18 years old, was an accomplished rider.
Philip Wasn't Well-Liked By The Royal Family
Even after their engagement, Elizabeth's marriage to Philip wasn't without controversy. Philip was foreign-born and many complained he technically didn't have a "home." He was officially Prince Phillip of Greece and Denmark but was also a British citizen. Even Elizabeth's mother was known for calling him "Philip The Hun."
To help become more accepted, Phillip renounced all his titles, converted to Anglicanism, and adopted the last name Mountbatten, from his British relatives.
Elizabeth's Full Name
Technically, the royal family doesn't have a last name and are only known by their first names. They do however get to choose a formal last name for certain events. Before her marriage, Elizabeth's surname was Windsor, a name that George V chose in 1917.
After her marriage to Phillip, Elizabeth was initially going to keep Windsor but Philip felt that disrespected him. In 1960, she officially became Elizabeth Windsor-Mountbatten as a nod to her husband.
She Paid For Her Wedding Dress
Elizabeth was still an active member of the military when she was married in 1948. This photo, taken earlier that same year, shows Elizabeth's devotion to the continued effects of WWII. During that time rationing measures were still in place in England and she had to use coupons to pay for dress.
The ivory Duchesse silk dress with a 13-foot train took six months to make and hundreds of coupons. Elizabeth used saved rations and a 200-coupon supplement from the government to pay for the dress.
She Has No Paperwork
Elizabeth has always enjoyed a few small perks that many people would beg for. Since both driver's licenses, plates, and passports are issued in the Queen's name, she herself doesn't need to have one.
That doesn't mean she's been driving without any practice or lessons. Elizabeth learned to drive while working as a truck mechanic during the war, and driving is actually one of her favorite hobbies. She often took joyrides in her Range Rover or Jaguar.
Her Maybe Royal Children
This photo from 1948 of Elizabeth with her first born child, Charles, reignited the controversy surrounding Philip's heritage. In 1948, no child was allowed to use the title royal prince or princess until both of their parents were royalty.
One month before Charles' birth, King George VI had to issue a decree allowing Charles to be a Duke because technically Philip had renounced his title to marry Elizabeth. In 1957, the Queen officially decreed upon him the title of prince.
Elizabeth's Drinking Habit
From a young age, Elizabeth has had a respectable and healthy love of fine alcoholic drinks. Today, she is known to have four drinks a day. Her favorite drink is a gin and dubonnet, but she also enjoys other beverages like champagne.
She loved the drink so much that she has one every day at lunch and her favorite gin, Gordon's Gin, even has a royal warrant to supply the family. Elizabeth's only other drink of choice is champagne.
Another Assassination Attempt
During the 1981 Trooping the Color—which was also her birthday celebration that year—a 17-year-old named Marcus Sarjeant took a single shot from a .22 caliber rifle at Elizabeth while she led the procession on horseback.
Sarjeant was obsessed with assassinations but luckily, he wasn't able to purchase live ammunition in the U.K. thanks to their weapon laws. Elizabeth was shaken up but finished the procession like a true queen who had seen war before.
The Queen On Social Media
Since her birth in 1926 and the start of her reign in 1952, Elizabeth has watched over some serious technological changes. As a teenager, the most advanced form of tech for Elizabeth was the radio. In 2009, she joined Twitter and in 2010, she joined Facebook.
Her accounts, like many social media accounts for heads of state, aren't actually run by her. It's mostly just the teams at Buckingham Palace giving us updates about her day to day activities.
Staying Close With Her Family
Elizabeth is seen here with her sister, mother, and father in 1940. After the family became the rulers of the British throne, they grew even closer to one another than before. Elizabeth was so close with her family that she was said to have cried frequently as a young girl when her father and mother would leave on royal tours.
Elizabeth also kept a close relationship with her uncle, Edward who had abdicated the throne. Edward
An Attractive Lady
Before Elizabeth became the queen and fashion became secondary, both she and her sister Margaret were known in the British press for being young, good looking, and having impeccable style. Elizabeth's choice to serve in the war effort popularized the look of royals wearing pants which was uncommon at the time.
Both Elizabeth and Margaret were also constantly seen in public wearing new designers. Even Elizabeth's famous matching hat and coat fashion today is a nod to her love of clothing design.
Uncomfortable With Her Royal Duties
She might be a pro now but in her early years ruling alongside her father, Elizabeth felt out of place at royal functions. Even the look on her face here as she and Philip dance at a royal event in 1948 shows her discomfort in the royal spotlight.
One royal duty she is known for always having a hatred for is sitting for portraits. Over her lifetime as a princess and queen, Elizabeth has sat for 129 portraits but almost every artist who has painted her says she won't sit still.
Philip Was Technically Her Cousin
Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, was related to her in two different ways. The couple were second cousins once removed through King Christian IX of Denmark. They were also third cousins as they share Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as great-great-grandparents.
The familial connection wasn't as scandalous at the time as you might think. By the 1900s, nearly every royal family in Europe was distantly related. Marrying within the royal lineage was sometimes even a requirement.
A Teenage Love Story
Not only is Elizabeth related to her husband but the two met when she was incredibly young. The couple first met when Elizabeth was eight and Philip was fourteen. They both attended the royal wedding of Princess Marina of Greece—who was Philip's cousin—and Prince George of Kent—Elizabeth's uncle.
Elizabeth wasn't smitten with Philip at the time but when the two met again five years later, she recalled being smitten by the now-18-year-old army cadet.
She Didn't Change Her Name
When ascending the British throne, you have the opportunity to take a different name. For example, Elizabeth's father was really named Albert Frederick Arthur George, but he chose to take the name King George VI instead of King Albert.
Elizabeth chose to keep her name when she became queen because of its royal significance. Her full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She was named after her mother Elizabeth, her great-grandmother Queen Alexandra, and her grandmother Queen Mary.
An Unwelcome Intruder
Despite being one of the most heavily guarded places in Britain, in 1982 an intruder managed to break into Buckingham Palace and sneak into Elizabeth's bedroom. The man, Michael Fagan, climbed over the barbed wire fence, climbed up a drainpipe, and through the window.
A longstanding rumor said that Elizabeth and Fagan had a long conversation but in reality, she just ran out of the room and alerted the security team.
Special Donation Money
In a tradition that dates all the way back to the 1400s, Elizabeth has special coins known as "maundy money." The silver coins have her likeness on the front and she is supposed to give them away to the poor and elderly in a ceremony called Maundy Thursday.
The official tradition also states she's supposed to wash the feet of penniless subjects but that was cut out in the 18th century after it wasn't deemed appropriate for a royal.
She's A Working Mom
Elizabeth's children might be all grown up now but when she first had them, she set a new precedent for being a working mother. Elizabeth's two eldest children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, were born before she became queen. In 1960, with the birth of Prince Andrew, she became the first sovereign to be in power while having a child since 1857.
Elizabeth used her platform as a queen and mother to help usher in the second wave of feminism as women became more and more independent.
She Answers Letters From The Public
After becoming queen, Elizabeth ushered in a new era of the British royalty where she became more personal and accessible to the public. One of her favorite things to do was personally answer letters and other correspondence that people send.
Just because you send her a letter doesn't mean you will get a response, though. It has been reported the queen gets 300 letters a day! She's also known for sending out Christmas cards during the holiday season, and telegrams to couples who celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary.
She Didn't Go Abroad Until She Was 20
Even though she was the heir apparent for more than a decade beforehand, Elizabeth didn't actually travel out of the United Kingdom until 1947. Her first trip outside of Britain was to South Africa with her parents and sister Margaret. It was in South Africa that she celebrated her 21st birthday and began to take on royal duties.
It was there that Elizabeth pledged her whole life "whether it shall be long or short" to the service of the entire Commonwealth.
She Received Strange Gifts
Since she was young, Elizabeth's fame and status has left her prone to receiving some pretty unique gifts. Notably, she's received two tortoises from the Seychelles in 1972. Elizabeth has also been gifted a bull elephant named Jumbo from the president of Cameroon, and a pair of black beavers from Canada. All the animals she receives get placed in the London Zoo.
Other strange gifts for Elizabeth include a pair of cowboy boots from Texas, a case of pineapples, and 7kg of prawns.
The Tragedy Of 1992
Elizabeth has always seems to be in a pretty good mood but she has openly admitted that the most difficult year of her life was 1992. It was the year that not one, not two, but three of her children had their marriages publicly break down. Of course, the most notable one was the separation of Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
This was also the year that a fire broke out in Windsor Castle damaging much of the historical items. Elizabeth calls 1992 "Annus horribilis" which means "horrible year."