Prince Albert, later King George VI, proudly sits for a photograph with his young daughter and future monarch, Elizabeth.
The life of a queen: Elizabeth II in pictures —
Prince Albert, later King George VI, proudly sits for a photograph with his young daughter and future monarch, Elizabeth.
'Marcus Adams: Royal Photographer' at Harewood House until 17 June
A little princess, Elizabeth II sits with her mother Queen Elizabeth.
Mother and daughter —
A little princess, Elizabeth II sits with her mother Queen Elizabeth.
'Marcus Adams: Royal Photographer' at Harewood House until 17 June
HRH Princess Elizabeth (center) undergoing instruction at the Auxiliary Territorial Service training centre in April 1945. Courtesy <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iwm.org.uk%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">Imperial War Museum </a>
A princess during wartime, 1945 —
HRH Princess Elizabeth (center) undergoing instruction at the Auxiliary Territorial Service training centre in April 1945. Courtesy Imperial War Museum
Courtesy IWM
Auxiliary Territorial Service: Princess Elizabeth, a 2nd Subaltern in the ATS, wearing overalls and standing in front of an L-plated truck. In the background is a medical lorry. Courtesy Imperial War Museum
Princess turned mechanic? —
Auxiliary Territorial Service: Princess Elizabeth, a 2nd Subaltern in the ATS, wearing overalls and standing in front of an L-plated truck. In the background is a medical lorry. Courtesy Imperial War Museum
Courtesy IWM
Princess Elizabeth and new husband, Prince Philip of Greece, pose for a royal photographer on their wedding day, 20 November 1947. By all accounts Prince Philip had won the future queen's heart by the age of 13.
Elizabeth marries Philip of Greece, 1947 —
Princess Elizabeth and new husband, Prince Philip of Greece, pose for a royal photographer on their wedding day, 20 November 1947. By all accounts Prince Philip had won the future queen's heart by the age of 13.
AFP/Getty Images
Princess Elizabeth enjoys a square dance held in the honor of the royal couple who were in Canada on a state visit in 1951.
Canada state visit, 1951 —
Princess Elizabeth enjoys a square dance held in the honor of the royal couple who were in Canada on a state visit in 1951.
Getty Images
A relaxed evening at the theater: The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II arrive at Windsor's Theatre Royal for a performance of George Bernard Shaw's "You Never Can Tell" on February 23, 1962.
Night out on the town, 1962 —
A relaxed evening at the theater: The Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II arrive at Windsor's Theatre Royal for a performance of George Bernard Shaw's "You Never Can Tell" on February 23, 1962.
AFP/Getty Images
From the Royal Collection -- the queen sits for a photograph with a young Prince Charles and a very blonde Princess Anne.
Queen Elizabeth with her children —
From the Royal Collection -- the queen sits for a photograph with a young Prince Charles and a very blonde Princess Anne.
Marcus Adams/Harwood House
An official photograph taken of Queen Elizabeth in 1977 -- the year of her silver jubilee.
Silver Jubilee, 1977 —
An official photograph taken of Queen Elizabeth in 1977 -- the year of her silver jubilee.
AFP/Getty Images
The queen's eldest child, Charles, Prince of Wales, bows while his new bride, Princess Diana, curtsies to the British sovereign as they leave St Paul's Cathedral, on July 29, 1981.
Eldest child Charles weds, 1981 —
The queen's eldest child, Charles, Prince of Wales, bows while his new bride, Princess Diana, curtsies to the British sovereign as they leave St Paul's Cathedral, on July 29, 1981.
AFP/Getty Images
The year 1992 was a bad one for the royal family. In addition to the three royal marriage breakdowns, a fire wreaks havoc in Windsor Castle causing major structural damage. The queen would later describe this year as "annus horribilis."
Annus Horribilis, 1992 —
The year 1992 was a bad one for the royal family. In addition to the three royal marriage breakdowns, a fire wreaks havoc in Windsor Castle causing major structural damage. The queen would later describe this year as "annus horribilis."
AFP/Getty Images
Criticism of the monarchy peaked in 1997 following the death of Princess Diana in Paris. The royal family was accused of being remote and out of touch with the grief-stricken public. However, after several days of silence, the queen returned to London, speaking to mourners and admitted there were lessons to be learnt from Diana's life.
Royal family popularity drops, 1997 —
Criticism of the monarchy peaked in 1997 following the death of Princess Diana in Paris. The royal family was accused of being remote and out of touch with the grief-stricken public. However, after several days of silence, the queen returned to London, speaking to mourners and admitted there were lessons to be learnt from Diana's life.
AFP/Getty Images
Since the death of Diana, the queen's popularity has enjoyed a revival as she continues to preside over what appears to be a softer, more accessible modern royal family. Here, she attends her grandson Prince Harry's graduation from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, southern England in 2006.
A more accessible royal family, 2006 - present —
Since the death of Diana, the queen's popularity has enjoyed a revival as she continues to preside over what appears to be a softer, more accessible modern royal family. Here, she attends her grandson Prince Harry's graduation from the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, southern England in 2006.
AFP/Getty Images