Operation London Bridge, commemorating Queen Elizabeth II, 8 September 2022

Queen Elizabeth II, photo taken at Buckingham Palace in February 2006 for her 80th birthday by late photographer Jane Bown, who was 81 at the time. She passed away at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire, on Thursday, 8 September 2022. She was born at Mayfair, London, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York 21 April 1926. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III.

The Australian Wattle Portrait of the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II was completed by Australian artist Sir William Dargie in 1954. The Queen’s 1954 tour was the first time a reigning monarch had set foot on Australian soil. About 75 per cent of Australia’s population caught a glimpse of the new young queen.The wattle painting is one of the most recognisable 20th century Australian portraits.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4014030)

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Canada House 1951.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3535387)

Princess Elizabeth on the Royal tour in Ottawa, 11 October 1951.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4312478)

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II taking the salute in ceremony of Trooping the Colour. Trooping of the Colour c,1953. Her Majesty is wearing the uniform of the Grenadier Guards and is riding a Metropolitan Police horse named "Imp". Her favorite horse was named "Burmese", a gift from the RCMP.

(IWM Photo)

HRH Princess Elizabeth as a 2nd Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, cApril 1945.

(IWM Photo)

Princess Elizabeth explaining to the Queen what she has done to the car engine in April, 1945 during her service in the Second World War.

(IWM Photo, TR 2832)

HRH Princess Elizabeth as a 2nd Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, standing in front of an ambulance, April 1945.

(IWM Photo)

HRH Princess Elizabeth as a 2nd Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, cApril 1945.

(IWM Photo)

HRH Princess Elizabeth as a 2nd Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, cApril 1945.

(IWM Photo)

HRH Princess Elizabeth as a 2nd Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, cApril 1945.

(IWM Photo)

HRH Princess Elizabeth as a 2nd Subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, cApril 1945.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 2242972)

Queen Elizabeth II, 21 April 1926 - 8 September 2022.

(Royal Album)

Queen Elizabeth II, royal portrait.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 2204270)

The first image I remember seeing of our Queen was on postcards from my grandmother Estabrooks with this postage stamp on them in 1954.

Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom from 6 February 1952 until her death on 8 September 2022.[a] Her reign of 70 years and 214 days was the longest of any British monarch and the second-longest recorded of any monarch of a sovereign country. At the time of her death, Elizabeth was queen of 14 other Commonwealth realms in addition to her native United Kingdom realm.[b]Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home and began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In November 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark, and their marriage lasted 73 years until his death in April 2021. They had four children together: Charles III; Anne, Princess Royal; Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.When her father died in February 1952, Elizabeth—then 25 years old—became queen regnant of seven independent Commonwealth countries: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (known today as Sri Lanka), as well as Head of the Commonwealth. Elizabeth reigned as a constitutional monarch through major political changes such as the Troubles in Northern Ireland, devolution in the United Kingdom, the decolonisation of Africa, and the United Kingdom's accession to the European Communities and withdrawal from the European Union. The number of her realms varied over time as territories have gained independence and some realms have become republics. Her many historic visits and meetings include state visits to China in 1986, Russia in 1994, the Republic of Ireland in 2011, and visits with five Popes.Significant events include Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 and the celebrations of her Silver, Golden, Diamond, and Platinum Jubilees in 1977, 2002, 2012, and 2022, respectively. Elizabeth was the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, and the second-longest verifiable reigning sovereign monarch in world history, only behind Louis XIV of France. She faced occasional republican sentiment and media criticism of her family, particularly after the breakdowns of her children's marriages, her annus horribilis in 1992, and the death of her former daughter-in-law Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. However, support for the monarchy in the United Kingdom remained consistently high, as did her personal popularity. Elizabeth died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III. (Wikipedia)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4949078)

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4301707) 

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are driven along the runway line with RCAF CF-100 Canuck fighters, en route to Rideau Hall, Ottawa, Ontario, 12 October 1957.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3963296)

1957 Royal visit to Canada.

(British Columbia Aviation Museum Photo)

Queen Elizabeth II, Gatwick Airport, London, UK.

Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 2242982)

Queen Elizabeth II.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4301937)

Queen Elizabeth II wearing crown, blue sash and pink gown, standing on balcony in Buckingham Palace, 1959.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4301940)

H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace, London, England. Official portrait taken before the 1959 Royal tour.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194608)

Her mother and father, their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, 19 May 1939.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 4314245)

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Vladimir Tiara, the Queen Victoria Jubilee Necklace, the blue Garter Riband, Badge and Garter Star and the Royal Family Orders of King George V and King George VI.

The Queen and Prince Philip share a laugh!

If you found this valuable, consider supporting the author.