Queen Elizabeth II, whose illustrious seven-decade reign was the longest in British history, has died at the age of 96. The Queen officially reached the milestone as Britain's longest-ruling monarch in September 2015 when she surpassed her great-grandmother Queen Victoria's record rule of 63 years. In honor of the momentous occasion, the royal family presented an exhibit of photos at The Royal Collection Trust of the then-89-year-old Queen to commemorate her reign. Now, we're doing the same to honor her memory. Ahead, take a walk down memory lane and see how a young Elizabeth made her mark from the start.
The Little Princess
Even at age one, Princess Elizabeth knew how to pose perfectly and wave to the crowds.
Baby Photos
Who would've guessed little Elizabeth could have given Shirley Temple a run for her money?
All Smiles
Princess Elizabeth cheerily posing for the camera in 1930.
Princess Dresses
The princess sitting pretty in dress fit for a (future) queen.
Her Favorite Dog Breed
Of course, being a royal isn't all about wearing pretty dresses and posing for photos—it's also about cuddling with the royal corgis.
Lap Dogs
Just try not to smile at another sweet image of Princess Elizabeth with her pet corgis Jane and Dookie.
Sister-Sister
Princess Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret pictured dressing up as Cinderella and Prince Charming during a royal pantomime at Windsor Castle.
Flower Child
The future queen standing in front of her playhouse given to her by the people of Wales.
Say Cheese
The princesses posing for a family portrait with their mother, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Picture Perfect
Here, the princesses worked on paintings in the school room of Buckingham Palace.
Pony Up
Here's the late Queen Elizabeth with one of her horses.
Mother-Daughter
A photo of Queen Elizabeth, wife of King George VI of England, with her daughter Princess Elizabeth.
Royal Pets
Here's Princess Elizabeth (right) and Princess Margaret playing with another one of their unconventional pets, a chameleon.
Hanging With the Girls
The sisters with the girl guides (the U.K.'s equivalent to Girl Scouts) in April of 1942.
Teen Royals
Can Buckingham Palace send its hairstylists our way?
A Queen's Best Friend
Nearly 20 years later, Queen Elizabeth posed alongside one of her beloved corgis yet again.
All Smiles
Queen Elizabeth flashed her pearly whites while attending an event at Tivoli Theatre.
Elizabeth and Philip's Official Engagement
They announced their engagement in July 1947. Just look how sweetly he looked at her!
Meet the Family
Princess Elizabeth with her fiance Philip alongside her sister Margaret in the White Drawing Room of Buckingham Palace.
I Do
On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, wed at Buckingham Palace.
The Honeymoon
Princess Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh during their honeymoon in Malta, where he is stationed with the Royal Navy.
First Born
Princess Elizabeth with her son, Prince Charles of Edinburgh, after his christening
Parents Night Out
Here's the new parents attending a Charity Ball at the Dorchester Hotel.
Starter Family
Princess Elizabeth alongside her husband with their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne.
Royal Family
The young royal family outside of Balmoral Castle in the fall of 1952.
The Little Prince
Prince Charles and his mother looking out the window of Balmoral Castle that same fall of 1952.
Play Date
Princess Elizabeth watching her son play in his shiny toy car while at the castle.
Family Time
QE2 with Princess Anne and Prince Charles on Charles' fourth birthday.
The Beginning of Her Reign
After King George VI died, Elizabeth acceded the throne and became the wise, stoic, graceful Queen we know her as today.
The Crown
On June 2, 1953, Her Majesty donned the three-pound Imperial State Crown for the Queen's Coronation Day at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen's Speech
Queen Elizabeth II smiling towards Prince Philip just before the end of her first Christmas Day television speech to her nation.
Happy Birthday to You
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and their children at Windsor on the Queen's 39th birthday.
Scouts Honor
Queen Elizabeth greeting the boy scouts at a gala.
Glamour Shot
An official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II.
Road Trip
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with a young Prince Charles leaving Euston Station after traveling overnight from Aberdee.
All Dolled Up
Queen Elizabeth II leaving a State Reception in Germany wearing the Jubilee Necklace and a diamond bow brooch with a pearl drop inherited from Queen Mary.
Variety Show
Queen Elizabeth II, with her escort Lord Bernard Delfont, attending the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium.
Garden Party
Queen Elizabeth II at the garden party in the grounds of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, in connection with the 50th anniversary of the Women's Services.
Riding In Style
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attending a service for the Order of St. Michael and St. George at St. Paul's Cathedral, London. The Queen wore the Star of the Order, which bears the motto "Auspicium Melioris Aevi."
Night On The Town
Queen Elizabeth II was a multi-color vision as she attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Birmingham Hippodrome.
Luck Be a Lady
Queen Elizabeth II crossed her fingers as she watched her horse, "Ring of Truth," run in the Al Basti Equiworld EBF Stallions Maiden Stakes during the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials Meeting at Newbury Racecourse.
Polo Club
The Queen presenting Prince Harry with a gift at the Charity Polo Match in Windsor.
Rainy Day
Queen Elizabeth II ducked from the rain while attending a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.
Royal Fashions
Queen Elizabeth II sitting next to Anna Wintour at Richard Quinn's runway show during London Fashion Week.
•••
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
-
Prince Harry Reveals How Meghan Markle Is Different From Other Royal Women in Viral TikTokThe Duke of Sussex is always ready to defend his wife.
-
Do Princess Kate and Prince William Take George, Charlotte, and Louis Trick-or-Treating?Here's how the royals celebrate Halloween.
-
Is Kaia Gerber Hiding a Halloween Costume Under Her Chic Black Blazer?The model attended Billie Eilish's Halloween party in a seriously sleek outfit.
-
Queen Elizabeth's Former Press Secretary Is Comparing the Royal to Taylor SwiftIt turns out the duo had one major thing in common.
-
Why Queen Elizabeth Ended up on a "Water Shoot Slide" in an “Evening Dress and Tiara"In an exclusive interview with 'Marie Claire,' a former royal butler explains why The Queen "thought it was hilarious because things like that don't happen."
-
The Tragic Event That Once Made Queen Elizabeth Cry in PublicOct. 21 marks 58 years since the disaster.
-
Queen Elizabeth Had Only One Sure-Fire Way to Get Her Corgis to "Shut Up"It was totally on-brand.
-
The Rare Moments When Queen Elizabeth Allowed Herself to Be “A Normal Woman in the Countryside”A Land Rover expert tells 'Marie Claire' of a time when the late monarch "just looked completely at home."
-
Queen Elizabeth's Rare Childhood Tantrum is Truly EpicEvery once in a while, Elizabeth let loose.
-
'The Great British Bake Off' Star Prue Leith Once Messed Up Queen Elizabeth's Tea Order"You'd think it was a state secret!"
-
The Sentimental Item from Prince Philip That Queen Elizabeth Kept in Her HandbagIt's royally romantic.
