Неr majesty Queen Elizabeth 2

From early childhood, through her teenage years, her wartime service and as a royal bride and mother, Elizabeth II has been one of the most photographed women in the world, and has remained the focus of worldwide attention throughout her life.

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ACCESSION & CORONA TION

On 2 June 1953, Elizabeth II arrives at Westminster Abbey to be crowned Queen. Her Majesty is escorted by the Duke of

her Maids of Honour

Three generations of royal ladies in mourning as The Queen, her grandmother, Queen Mary, and her mother, Queen Elizabeth, await the arrival of the body of King George VI at Westminster Hall for the lying-in-State in February 1952

Coronation ceremony concludes as Queen Elizabeth II processes down the nave at Westminster Abbey wearing the solidgold St Edward's Crown, which weighs 2kg (4lb 12oz). Her Majesty's train is borne by her six Maids of Honour.

THE FIRST DECADE 1952-1961

As the first decade of The Queen's reign drew to a close, it was clear that she had fulfilled her role faultlessly. She remained as popular as ever and was admired wherever she went, at home or abroad.

The Royal Family gathers on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on Coronation Day. Prince Charles had witnessed the service in Westminster Abbey, but Princess Anne was considered to be too young, so this was her first taste of the day's celebrations.

This portrait of The Queen by the Italian artist Pietro Annigoniproved so popular that when it was unveiled in 1955, attendance records at the Royal Academy were broken. It was just one of the many portraits that The Queen has sat for during her reign.

WORKING WITH CHARITIES ONCE A YEAR, The Queen is the guest of honour at the Royal Variety Performance, staged by members of the entertainment industry. On this glittering occasion, Her Majesty wears evening dress, a tiara, and some of the magnificent jewels from the royal collection. The proceeds from the evening are distributed to various charities.

The Queens first Christmas broadcast, 1957

THE ROYAL FAMILY has made extensive use of broadcasting since the early days of the 20th century. King George V made the first Christmas Day broadcast on radio in 1932, and this rapidly became an annual event.

THE STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT usually takes place in the first week in November when Parliament assembles for its winter session. The Queen reads a speech written for her by the Prime Minister, outlining the Government's proposed legislation for the coming year. This is the perfect example of a constitutional monarch at work: a reign­ing sovereign carrying out the wishes of a democratically elected government .

EVENTS OF THE DECADE 1963 The Queen visits Australia for Canberra's Jubilee celebrations. Sir Alex Douglas-Home becomes Prime Minister. 1964 Harold Wilson Queen makes a ten-city tour of Germany. 1967 The Queen visits Canada for the centenary. 1969 The Royal Family appear in a television documentary. The investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales takes place. 1970 Edward Heath becomes Prime Minister.

On 10 March 1964 The Queen gave birth to her fourth child, Prince Edward. He made his first public appearance in June of that year when The Queen carried him on to the balcony of the palace after the Sovereign's Birthday Parade.

THE SECOND DECADE 1962-1971

In July 1969, all eyes were on the ancient North Wales town of Caernarvon where the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales was held. The Queen handed the regalia to her eldest son in the romantic setting of the castle.

The Queen and Prince Philip have visited Canada on 16separate occasions since the accession in 1952, the first visit taking place in 1957. The royal couple always receive a warm welcome in every part of the country.

Queen and Princess Margaret are pictured with Emperor Hirohito and Empress Nagako during the controversial State Visit by the Japanese ruler in October 1969..

The Royal Maundy service held at Lincoln Cathedral.

THE THIRD DECADE 1972-1981

A royal walkabout during Silver j Year, 1977. And nothing could have captured the atmosphere better than when Her Majesty met thousands of her people in the streets of Britain.

To help mark The Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, street parties were held throughout Britain, and the celebrations lasted for weeks. This one is in London's east end.

• EVENTS OF THE DECADE
• 1972 The Queen and Prince Philip celebrate
• their Silver Wedding Anniversary. 1974 Harold Wilson becomes Prime Minister.
• 1976 The Queen and Prince Philip visit the United States of America to celebrate the bicentenary.
• James Callaghan becomes Prime Minister.
• 1977 The Queen celebrates her Silver Jubilee.
• 1979 Earl Mountbatten of Burma is assassinated.
• Margaret Thatcher becomes Britain's first female Prime Minister.
• 1980 The Queen meets with the Pope at the Vatican in Rome.

Celebrating 25 years of marriage in 1972, this informal portrait of The Queen and Prince Philip illustrates perfectly why theirs has been such a successful partnership. He is her most fervent supporter, while she has described him as 'My rock'.

THE THIRD DECADE 1972-1981

The Queen has never hidden her affection for the Antipodes. She loves the easy informality that accompanies even official occasions, so it is not difficult to see why she and Prince Philip enjoyed this visit to Tasmania.

The Queen is driven past the standards of all the nations competing in the 1978 Commonwealth Games at Edmonton, Canada. As a special treat, Her Majesty and Prince Philip also took along their two younger sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, to see the Games.

THE SOVEREIGN'S BIRTHDAY PARADE OF ALL THE PAGEANTRY and ceremony that surrounds the monarchy, the Sover­eign's Birthday Parade, held on a Saturday in June, ranks among the year's truly great occasions. The parade, which takes place on Horse Guards, is generally referred to as Trooping the Colour; however, parading the standard of the Guards Regiment on duty through the ranks is just part of the two-hour ceremony.

The Queen presents the Order of Merit to Mother Theresa.

ROYAL INVESTITURES THE QUEEN normally holds fourteen investitures every year. They take place in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace, and up to 150 people attend to receive their Orders, decorations and medals. The honours are presented by The Queen herself, but if for any reason she is unable to attend the ceremony - if she is abroad, for instance - a senior member of the Royal Family will deputise for her.

THE FOURTH DECADE 1982-1991

A milestone in The Queens life, when she celebrated her 60th birthday on 21 April 1986. On this walkabout she is surrounded by a sea of daffodils, which reflect the colour of her spring outfit.

History was made in 1991 when Elizabeth II became the first British sovereign to address a joint meeting of the United States Congress in Washington, DC. Her speech was warmly welcomed and appreciated by both sides of the House.

The demands of being a constitutional monarch are unrelenting, and Her Majesty is a perfect example of a working sovereign — for her, the work never ends.

THE ROYAL GARDEN PARTIES NO SUMMER SEASON would be complete with­out the Royal Garden Parties - three at Buckingham Palace, and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. They are an ideal way for The Queen to meet a wide variety of her subjects and other guests.

The Queen and Prince Philip enjoying the Garter Ceremony.

A Garden Party in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.

THE FIFTH DECADE 1992-2001

The Queen and the newly elected President Nelson Mandela of South Africa, shortly after the elections in 1992. They established an immediate rapport and a warm and lasting friendship developed.

President Rawlings presents Chiefs of the various Tribes to Her Majesty and Prince Philip during a durbar held in Accra as part of the royal couple's visit to Ghana.

The Queen and Prince Philip arrive at Westminster Abbey for the thanksgiving service to mark their Golden Wedding Anniversary in November 1997.

• EVENTS OF THE DECADE
• 1992 The Queen meets Nelson Mandela at the Common­wealth Heads of Government Conference in Zimbabwe.
• 1995 The 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
• 1997 Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister.
• The restoration of Windsor Castle following fire damage
• is completed.
• The Queen and Prince Philip celebrate their 50th .
• wedding anniversary.
• The Princess of Wales dies in a car crash in Paris.
• 1999 The Queen attends the openings of the Welsh Assembly and the new Scottish Parliament.
• 2000 The Royal Family celebrates the 1 00th birthday of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
• 2001 Tony Blair is re-elected Prime Minister.

The Queen, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret took part in the ceremonies to mark the 50th Anniversary of the ending of the Second World War. The three royal ladies thoroughly enjoyed watching the crowds in The Mall from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

• 4 August 2000, and the occasion is the 100th birthday of The Queen Mother. A large family turnout appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, including Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, the Duke of York, Princess Margaret, the Earl of Wessex, The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Countess of Wessex, Prince William, the Prince of Wales and Prince Harry.

THE FUTURE

Prince Charles thanks his mother with a traditional and respectful kiss on the hand after she had presented him with his prize after a polo match on Smith's Lawn, Windsor.

William and Harry are both excellent sportsmen and enjoy competing with each other - and their father — on the ski slopes of the fashionable Swiss resort of Klosters.

Prince William of Wales is the eventual Heir to the Throne and, like his father before him, he is receiving intensive training for his future role. Public school, university and a variety of voluntary work experience are all part of the preparation that goes into the making of a 21st-century monarch

• DATES & EVENTS
• 1926 Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary is born in London
• on 21 April, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York.
• 1930 Princess Margaret Rose is born on 21 August.
• 1936 King Edward VIII abdicates, the Duke of York accedes to the throne as King George VI, and Princess Elizabeth becomes Heir Presumptive.
• 1937 Princess Elizabeth moves into Buckingham Palace with her parents and sister.
• 1947 Princess Elizabeth's engagement to Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten is announced in July. Their wedding takes place on 20 November, and Philip becomes Duke of Edinburgh.

• 1948 Prince Charles is born on 14 November. 1950 Princess Anne is born on 15 August.
• 1052 King George VI dies on 6 February, and Princess Elizabeth accedes to the throne.
• 1953 Princess Elizabeth's coronation as Queen Elizabeth II takes place in Westminster Abbey on 2 June.
• 1957 The Duke of Edinburgh is created a Prince of the United Kingdom by The Queen.
• i960 Prince Andrew is born on 19 February. 1964 Prince Edward is born on 10 March.
• 1972 The Queen and Prince Philip celebrate their Silver Wedding Anniversary.

• 1977 The Queen celebrates her Silver Jubilee, and her first grandchild, Peter, is born on 15 November, to Princess Anne and her husband, Captain Mark Phillips.
• 1981 Princess Anne's second child, Zara, is born on 15 May.
• 1982 Prince William, the future heir to the throne, is born to the Prince and Princess of Wales on 21 June.
• 1984 The Prince and Princess of Wales' second child, Prince 'Harry', is born on 15 September.
• 1988 The Duke and Duchess of York's first child, Princess Beatrice, is born on 8 August.
• 1990 The Duke and Duchess of York's second child, Princess Eugenie, is born on 23 March.
• 1997 The Queen and Prince Philip celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary.