LONDON — Born in 1926, eight years after the end of World War I, Elizabeth took her first steps in a world we recognize only from sepia photographs, in a country yet to see its first public TV broadcast and one that was in some respects more like the 19th century than the 21st.
More than nine decades later she died as Britain’s longest-serving monarch, leaving behind a very different nation to the one whose throne she inherited at age 25 in 1952.
Under the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Britain lost the last of its empire, underwent dizzying social transition, saw extraordinary technological advances and bewildering political changes.
Only Britons well into their 70s can remember a time before the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who remained a unique symbol of continuity and duty in a period of extraordinary upheaval. As head of state, her mainly ceremonial functions also included overseas tours and regular meetings with prime ministers from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss.
Respect for her has sustained support for the royal family despite its many problems. It has also underpinned the unity of the United Kingdom at a time of growing pressure for Scottish independence and Irish reunification.
Here are a selection of images from that remarkable life.
Princess Elizabeth sleeping in a royal christening robe in 1926, with her father, who was then the Duke of York, and her mother, then Elizabeth, Duchess of York.
Popperfoto, via Getty Images
On the platform at King’s Cross station in London, departing for Christmas holidays at Sandringham in 1929.
Edward G. Malindine/Topical Press Agency, via Getty Images
Riding a pony in Windsor in 1936. Elizabeth’s father was the second son of King George V; she was not in line for the throne until her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 and her father became King George VI.
Associated Press
Sitting on a garden seat with two dogs in 1936.
Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa, via Getty Images
In Frogmore Park, Windsor Castle, wearing her Girl Guides uniform in 1942. The princesses moved to Windsor Castle with the outbreak of war in 1939.
Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa, via Getty Images)
Greeting officers and cadets in 1943. Elizabeth was honorary colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
Associated Press
Learning basic car maintenance in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1946. She had enrolled as an honorary subaltern in early 1945, when she was 18.
Mirrorpix via Getty Images
Celebrating Victory in Europe Day with her mother and father. Prime Minister Winston Churchill stands in the center; her younger sister, Princess Margaret, is also on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on May 8, 1945.
Associated Press
At her desk in Buckingham Palace in 1946.
Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa, via Getty Images
With her then fiancé, Philip Mountbatten, later Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, at Buckingham Palace, after their engagement was announced in 1947.
Topical Press Agency/Hulton Archive, via Getty Images
With Philip at Buckingham Palace after their wedding ceremony in 1947.
Press Association, via Associated Press
Princess Elizabeth with Prince Philip and their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Clarence House in 1951. Charles was born in 1948 and Anne two years later. Two more children were to follow, Prince Andrew in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964.
Eddie Worth/Associated Press
Elizabeth’s coronation in June 1953, after the death of her father, King George VI, in February 1952.
Hulton Archive, via Getty Images
With Prince Philip, waving at crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after her coronation in 1953.
Keystone/Hulton Archive, via Getty Images
Posing for a portrait with Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace in 1958.
Donald McKague/Michael Ochs Archives, via Getty Images
From left, Prince Edward, Prince Philip, the queen, Princess Anne, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew in a drawing room at Sandringham House in 1969. In the late 1960s, the queen lifted some of the secrecy around their family with a widely viewed TV documentary film.
Hulton Archive/Central Press, via Getty Images
A motorcade taking the queen along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House in Washington in 1957, on her first trip to the United States as the British monarch.
Popperfoto, via Getty Images
Speaking in the United Nations General Assembly in New York in 1957.
United Nations, via EPA
Riding an elephant after a tiger hunt, part of a royal tour of Nepal, in February 1961.
Paul Popper/Popperfoto, via Getty Images
With Prince Philip as their train departed during a royal visit to Canada in 1978.
John Downing/Getty Images
Riding with President Ronald Reagan on the grounds of Windsor Castle in 1982.
Bob Daugherty/Associated Press
Being met by Nigerians with Prince Philip in 1956.
Bettmann, via Getty Images
In Yosemite National Park, Calif., in 1983.
George Rose/Getty Images
With Prince Philip, passing the Berlin Wall in 1965.
Ron Burton/Mirrorpix, via Getty Images
The royal family at Buckingham Palace in 1972, left to right: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward and Prince Charles.
Fox Photos/Hulton Archive, via Getty Images
On a walkabout among crowds in 1984.
Tim Graham/Photo Library, via Getty Images
Visiting the Terracotta Army on a state visit to China in Xi’an in 1986.
John Shelley Collection/Avalon, via Getty Images
Visiting the Great Wall of China with Prince Philip in 1986.
Tim Graham/Getty Images
On a balcony at Buckingham Palace with Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, after their royal wedding in 1981. The couple had two children — William, in 1982, and Harry, in 1984 — but separated in 1992.
Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
Watching a polo match in Windsor with Diana in 1982.
Tim Graham Photo Library, via Getty Images
With Prince Harry, left, and Prince William, right, at Guards Polo Club, Windsor, in 1987.
Tim Graham Photo Library, via Getty Images
With the emir of Bahrain during horse and camel racing in Bahrain in 1979.
Tim Graham Photo Library, via Getty Images
Riding with President Nelson Mandela of South Africa at the beginning of his state visit to Britain in 1996.
Tim Graham Photo Library, via Getty Images
Delivering a speech in the Capitol during a visit to Washington in 1991.
Tim Graham Photo Library, via Getty Images
Shaking hands with Innu women while visiting central Labrador, Canada, in 1997.
Pool photo
With Prince Philip, viewing flowers left in memory of Diana outside Buckingham Palace in 1997. The princess’s death that year in a car crash led to a huge outpouring of public feeling in Britain, which the queen seemed initially to struggle to handle.
Pool photo
Riding in Windsor Home Park in 2020.
Pool photo by Steve Parsons
Visiting the Royal Albert Hall in London for a show in 2004.
Tim Graham Picture Library, via Getty Images
Presenting Charles with a horticultural society medal during a visit to the Chelsea Flower Show in London in 2009.
Pool photo by Sang Tan
Smiling at her grandson Prince Harry, second from right, as she inspects soldiers at the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in 2006.
Tim Graham Photo Library, via Getty Images
President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the first lady, with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Winfield House, the U.S. ambassador’s residence in London, in 2011.
Doug Mills/The New York Times
Sitting next to Anna Wintour, third from right, Vogue’s editor in chief, at a runway show at London Fashion Week in 2018.
Pool photo by Yui Mok
With Prince Philip, waving to guests attending celebrations for her 90th birthday in London in 2016.
Pool photo by Arthur Edwards
With Charles, fourth from right, and his second wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, second from right, during the state opening of Parliament in 2019.
Pool photo by Victoria Jones
Greeting President Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, on their arrival at Windsor Castle last year.
Andrew Testa for The New York Times
At the funeral of Prince Philip, who died last year at 99, the queen sat alone under Covid regulations.
Victoria Jones/Pool via REUTERS
Waving from the Buckingham Palace balcony during celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee this summer, alongside Charles, left; her great-grandchildren Louis, Charlotte and George; Prince William, right, and his wife, Kate.
Daniel Leal/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Viewing jubilee memorabilia at Windsor Castle earlier this year, alongside Candy, one of her dogs.
Pool photo by Steve Parsons
At Balmoral Castle in Scotland before receiving Liz Truss, Britain’s new prime minister, for an audience on Tuesday.
Pool photo by Jane Barlow
Celebrating her 87th birthday in 2013.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth, 1926-2022.
Pool photo by Suzanne Plunkett
Correction: Sept. 8, 2022
A picture caption with an earlier version of this article misstated the locations of Prince William and Prince Harry at the Guards Polo Club with the queen. Prince Harry, not Prince William, was on the left.
Text by Stephen Castle/ Produced by Mona Boshnaq/The New York Times
