The Queen’s remarkable life in 60 photos

On April 21st, 2016, HM Queen Elizabeth II will turn 90 years old, becoming the first British monarch in history to do so. At 63 years and counting, her reign is the longest in British history, having surpassed Queen Victoria’s record on September 9th last year. Over the course of this remarkable period, the Queen has been to 128 countries on around 270 official visits, where she has met a plethora of world leaders, countless subjects and many millions of admirers. To celebrate this historic birthday, The Gentleman’s Journal gives you a photographic insight in to the life of the most famous woman in the world.

1928 - Princess Elizabeth at two.Marcus Adams Camera Press

1928 – A two year old Princess Elizabeth. Photograph: Marcus Adams/Camera Press

1936 - Princess Elizabeth with her mother, Queen Elizabeth. (Rex Features)

1936 – Princess Elizabeth with the Queen Mother. Photograph: Rex Features

1940 - Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret make a broadcast to the children of the Empire (Getty Images)

1940 – Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret make a broadcast to the children of the Empire. Photograph: Getty Images

1942 - Aged 16, Princess Elizabeth registers for war service. (Getty Images)

1942 – At 16 years old, Princess Elizabeth registers for war service. Photograph: Getty Images

1944 - King George VII, the Queen Mother and Elizabeth watch a passing Churchill tank. (Popperfoto:Getty)

1944 – King George VI, the Queen Mother and Elizabeth watch a passing Churchill tank. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty

1945 - Silver gelatin print by Cecil Beaton (Cecil Beaton - Victoria and Albert Museum, London)

1945 – Silver gelatin print by Cecil Beaton. Photograph: Cecil Beaton/Victoria and Albert Museum, London

1945 - The Queen with members of the public in the East End of London. The date is 9th May 1945, the day after VE Day (Getty Images)

1945 – The Queen with members of the public in the East End of London. The date is 9th May, 1945 – the day after VE day. Photograph: Getty Images

1947 - The Queen and Philip during their honeymoon at Broadlands, Romsey, Hampshire (Getty)

1947 – The Queen and Prince Philip during their honeymoon at Broadlands, Hampshire. Photograph: Getty Images

1947 - The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham palace on their wedding day, the 20th November, 1947 (Getty Images)

1947 – The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham palace on their wedding day, the 20th November, 1947. Photograph: Getty Images

1948 - Princess Elizabeth with an infant Charles (Associated Press)

1948 – Elizabeth with her firstborn, Charles. Photograph: Associated Press

1951. Elizabeth with Harry S. Truman (George Skadding - The LIFE picture collection)

1951 – Elizabeth with President Harry S. Truman. Photograph: George Skadding/The LIFE picture collection

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1953 – Elizabeth’s Coronation, which took place in Westminster Abbey, was watched by over 20 million. Many of these people had bought their first television set in order to watch this historic occasion. Photograph: AP

1953. Elizabeth on her Coronation Day (Associated Press)

1953 – The Queen on her Coronation Day. Photograph: Associated Press

1953. Official Potrait taken by Cecil Beaton after the coronation. (Cecil Beaton - Camera Press)

1953 – The official portrait taken by Cecil Beaton after the ceremony. Photograph: Cecil Beaton/Camera Press

1953. Elizabeth with Winston Churchill (Central Press : Getty Images)

1953 – Elizabeth with Winston Churchill. Many years after this photo was taken, the Queen was asked which PM she enjoyed meeting with the most. Her reply: “Winston of course, because it was always such fun.” Photograph: Central Press / Getty Images

1954 - The Queen on her way to a garden party in Sydney during her first state visit to Australia. (Keystone, Getty Images)

1954 – The Queen on her way to a garden party in Sydney during her first state visit to Australia. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

1956 - The Queen meeting film stars (including Marilyn Monroe, second from the right). (Harry Myers)

1956 – The Queen meeting film stars (including Marilyn Monroe, second from the right). Photograph: Harry Myers

1956 - The Queen meets Marilyn Monroe (Press Association)

1956 – The Queen with Marilyn Monroe. Photograph: Press Association

1957 - Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at the horse shows in Badminton, Gloucestershire. The queen films the competitition. (AP)

1957 – Queen Elizabeth (holding the video camera) and Princess Margaret at the horse shows in Badminton, Gloucestershire. Photograph: Associated Press

1958 - The Queen and Prince Philip pose for a portrait in Buckingham Palace (Getty Images)

1958 – The Queen and Prince Philip pose for a portrait in Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Getty Images

1958. The Queen visiting Rothes Colliery, Fife. She spent about half an hour underground while at the mine (Press Association)

1958 – The Queen visiting Rothes Colliery, Fife, where she spent about half an hour underground while inspecting the mine. Photograph: Press Association

1960 - Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh, a baby Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles at Balmoral. (AP)

1960 – Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh, a baby Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles at Balmoral. Photograph: Associated Press

1961. With the Kennedys at Buckingham Palace (Getty Images)

1961 – Elizabeth and Philip with the Kennedys at Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Getty Images

1963 - Queen Elizabeth inspects troops shortly after arriving ashore at Newstead Wharf, Brisbane, Australia (Getty Images)

1963 – Queen Elizabeth inspects troops shortly after arriving ashore at Newstead Wharf in Brisbane, Australia. Photograph: Getty Images

1966 - Queen Elizabeth presents England football captain Bobby Moore with the World Cup Trophy. (AP)

1966 – Queen Elizabeth presents England football captain Bobby Moore with the World Cup Trophy. Photograph: Associated Press

1966 - John Hedgecoe's iconic profile shot of the queenn has been reproduced some 200 billion times. (John Hedgecoe)

1966 – Commissioned by the Postmaster General, John Hedgecoe’s iconic profile shot of the Queen has been reproduced some 200 billion times. Photograph: John Hedgecoe

1966 - Queen Elizabeth tours the British Aircraft Corporation's facilties in Filton, Bristol. (Gamma-Keystone)

1966 – Queen Elizabeth is shown a model of a Concorde at the British Aircraft Corporation’s facilties in Filton, Bristol. Photograph: Gamma-Keystone

1967 - The Queen visiting her coronation regalia and the crown jewels. (Edward Sampson)

1967 – The Queen visiting her coronation regalia and the Crown Jewels. Photograph: Edward Sampson

1969 - Queen Elizabeth with US astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin. (AP)

1969 – Queen Elizabeth with US astronauts Michael Collins, Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin and Neil Armstrong. Photograph: Associated Press

1969. Elizabeth formally invests Prince Charles with the Coronet of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle (Press Association)

1969 – Elizabeth formally invests Prince Charles with the Coronet of the Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle. Photograph: Press Association

1970 - The Queen passes a fainted Guardsman while inspecting the troops. (Getty Images)

1970 – The Queen passes a fainted guardsman while inspecting the troops during the Trooping the Colour parade. Photograph: Getty Images

1972 - The Queen on board HMY Britannia. The photographer, Lichfield, had just been pushed in to the pool, hence the Queen's laughter. (Patrick Lichfield)

1972 – The Queen on board HMY Britannia. The photographer, Lichfield, had just been pushed in to the pool, prompting the Queen’s laughter. Photograph: Patrick Lichfield

1979 - The queen visits Oman (AP)

1979 – The queen on a state visit to Oman. Photograph: Associated Press

1980 - The Queen visits the Vatican for the first time. (Associated Press)

1980 – The Queen visits the Vatican for the first time. Photograph: Associated Press

1982 - Queen Elizabeth and Ronald Regan riding in the grouds of Windsor Castle. The horses were gifts to the Queen from the Canadian Mounted Police. (Georges De Keerle : Getty Images)

1982 – While Staying at Windsor Castle, Ronald Regan indulges the Queen by accompanying her riding – her favourite pastime. Photograph: Georges De Keerle

1983 - The queen presents Mother Theresa of Calcutta with the Honorary Order of Merit. (Associated Press)

1983 – The Queen presents Mother Theresa of Calcutta with the Honorary Order of Merit. Photograph: Associated Press

1984 - Elizabeth, Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan at a banquet following the London Economic Summit. (Press Association)

1984 – Elizabeth, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher at a banquet following the London Economic Summit. Photograph: Press Association

1984 - Queen Elizabeth inspects the Royal Regiment of Artillery in Dortmund, Germany. (AP)

1984 – Queen Elizabeth inspects the Royal Regiment of Artillery in Dortmund, Germany. Photograph: Getty Images

1985 - The royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. (Getty Images)

1985 – The Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Getty Images

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1986 – Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh on the Great Wall of China. Elizabeth made history by being the first British Monarch to travel to mainland China (and, by default, as the first to walk on the Great Wall). Photograph: PA

1989 - The Queen with Mikhail Gorbachev during his official visit to Britain (Andre De Wet:AFP)

1989 – The Queen with Mikhail Gorbachev, the President of the Soviet Union, during his official visit to Britain. Photograph: Andre De Wet/AFP

1991 - The Queen at work in her study onboard the the Royal Yacht Britannia (Camera Press)

1991 – The Queen at work in her study onboard the the Royal Yacht Britannia. Photograph: Camera Press

Elizabeth with President George H.W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth II (Tim Graham Getty)

1991 – Elizabeth with President George H.W. Bush. Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images

1993 - The Queen fires an SA80 assault rifle at the National Shooting Centre, Bisley. (Rex Features)

1993 – The Queen fires an SA80 assault rifle at the National Shooting Centre, Bisley. Photograph: Rex Features

2000 - Philip and the Queen toast the millenium at the Millenium Dome, London. (Arthur Edwards)

2000 – Philip and the Queen toast the millenium at the Millenium Dome, London. Photograph: Arthur Edwards

2000. Elizabeth with Nelson Mandela at Buckingham Palace (Anwar Hussein - Getty Images)

2000 – Elizabeth with Nelson Mandela at Buckingham Palace. Photograph: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

2001 - The Queen sitting for Lucian Freud. (David Dawson)

2001 – The Queen sitting for Lucian Freud. Photograph: David Dawson

2003 - The Queen takes tea with Eton schoolboys at Guards Polo Club (Mark Stewart)

2003 – A startled Queen taking tea with Eton schoolboys. Photograph: Mark Stewart

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, 2001. (Getty Images)

2001 – The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. Photograph: Getty Images

2006. The Queen, sitting in the Regency Room, looks at some of the birthday cards sent to her for her 80th Birthday. (Press Association)

2006 – The Queen, sitting in the Regency Room, looks at some of the birthday cards that were sent to her for her 80th Birthday. Photograph: Press Association

2007 - A portrait of Elizabeth by celebrity photographer Annie Leibowitz (Annie Leibowitz)

2007 – A portrait of Elizabeth captured by photographer Annie Leibowitz. Photograph: Annie Leibowitz

2007 - Elizabeth with George W. Bush on the balcony of the White House. (Anwar Hussein)

2007 – The Queen with George W. Bush on the balcony of the White House. Photograph: Anwar Hussein

2010 - The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wear 3d glasses while at a film screening at Pinewood Studios in Toronto, Canada. (John Stillwell)

2010 – The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh wear 3d glasses while at a film screening at Pinewood Studios in Toronto, Canada. Photograph: John Stillwell

2011 - The Queen makes a toast during the state banquet that was given in honour of President Barack Obama's first visit to Britain. (WPA Pool:Getty Images)

2011 – The Queen makes a toast during the banquet that was given in honour of President Barack Obama’s first visit to Britain. Photograph: WPA Pool/Getty Images

2011. President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama pose with Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. (Associated Press)

2011 – President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose with Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Photograph: Associated Press

2012 - The Official Diamon Jubilee portrait (John Swannell Royal Household)

2012 – The Official Diamond Jubilee portrait. Photograph: John Swannell/Royal Household

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2013 – The Queen pictured at Royal Ascot moments after her horse, Estimate, wins the Gold Cup. Photograph: Paul Grover/The Telegraph

2014 - Angelina Jolie is made an honorary Dame in recognition of her campaigning against sexual violence. (Getty Images)

2014 – Angelina Jolie is made an honorary Dame in recognition of her campaigning against sexual violence. Photograph:Press Association

The Queen with her red box of official papers (David Secombe)

The Queen with her box of official papers. Photograph: David Secombe

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