Queen Elizabeth II’s Remarkable Life and Reign in Pictures

On September 8, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II passed away. At 96 years of age and reigning as queen for 70 years, she
was the longest-living, longest-reigning British monarch. And while she and her famous family regularly made headlines, fans learned more about her (dramatized) past thanks to Netflix's The Crown (with Imelda Staunton playing the queen in season 5, which will take on a new poignancy with Her Majesty's recent passing).

In 1947, Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a former prince of Greece and Denmark. The couple has four children: Charles, Prince of Wales; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. When her father died in 1952, Elizabeth, then 25, became the head of the Commonwealth. The following year, Elizabeth was crowned and officially recognized as sovereign. Since then, the queen has served in her role as the queen of England, and in 2017, she became the first British monarch to reach a Sapphire Jubilee—a celebration to mark 65 years of her reign. This year's summer was the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70 years as queen.

On September 6, 2022, while at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, the queen met with newly elected leader of the Conservative Party Liz Truss, where she was invited to become prime minister and form a new government. Just two days later, it was announced that Her Majesty had died peacefully at her beloved Balmoral.

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's remarkable life in service, here are some photos of her through her 96 years of life, and 70 years as monarch.