Elizabeth II 1926-2022 | A life in the spotlight

From her birth to her death, going through marriages and divorces, small and big tragedies, trips around the world, work, family… Elizabeth II’s entire life was spent in front of the cameras.

April 21, 1926

Elisabeth Alexandra Mary was born in the London home of the Duke and Duchess of York, the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Her sister Margaret was born in 1930.

December 11, 1936

The young Elizabeth becomes heiress to the Crown when her father accedes to the throne, after the abdication of her brother Edward VIII.

September 13, 1940

First speech broadcast by Princess Elizabeth, aged 14. It is aimed at British children who have taken refuge abroad because of the war. She and her sister Margaret spent much of the war at Windsor Castle, while her parents were at Buckingham Palace in London. Four years later, she joined the women’s auxiliaries in the army and became a mechanic.

November 20, 1947

Elizabeth marries her third cousin Philip of Greece. Charles, heir to the throne, was born in 1948, followed by Anne in 1950, Andrew in 1960, and Edward in 1964.

February 6, 1952

As Elizabeth fills in for her ailing father on a tour of the Commonwealth, the King dies. It was through her husband, Prince Philip, that Elizabeth learned the news, at a hostel where they were staying in Kenya.

June 2, 1953

The Queen is crowned in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey broadcast live on radio and television in 44 languages.

July 29, 1981

Charles’s century wedding to Diana Spencer. The disagreement of the couple, very soon evident, dealt a heavy blow to the monarchy.

December 25, 1992

Elizabeth II evokes an annus horribilis during which three of her four children were separated and where her beloved Windsor Castle was burned to the ground.

August 31, 1997

Princess Diana died in a car accident in Paris. The Queen remains at Balmoral Castle, Scotland, while flowers and tributes are piling up outside Buckingham Palace, London. Her lack of reaction, out of step with popular emotion, arouses misunderstanding and criticism.

February and March 2002

Death of her sister Margaret on February 9, shortly before that of her mother, “the Queen Mother”, on March 30 at the age of 101.

April 29, 2011

Marriage of his grandson William, second in the order of succession, with the commoner Kate Middleton, a union of fairy tales before 2 billion viewers.

September 9, 2015

Elizabeth II breaks her great-great-grandmother Victoria’s longevity record on the throne.

February 6, 2017

The Queen celebrates the Sapphire Jubilee, on the occasion of her 65 years on the throne. At 90 years of her own, she is then, on the planet, the oldest sovereign in office and the longest reigning living monarch of hers.

May 19, 2018

Marriage of his grandson Harry with former American actress Meghan Markle. The couple will then step down from their official duties within the royal family, which they have accused of racism and indifference towards Meghan.

April 17, 2021

Queen Elizabeth attends the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, who supported her for more than seven decades. Prince Philip died “peacefully” on April 9, 2021 at Windsor Castle at the age of 99.

1^Ahem june 2022

Beginning of the celebrations around the 70th anniversary of his reign. She will be seen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, but her failing health will keep her away from most events.

September 6, 2022

For the first time in 70 years, he does not receive a prime minister at Buckingham Palace. Liz Truss will make the 800 kilometers to Scotland to meet the queen, who no longer leaves her chambers.