The Queen with her eldest son Prince Charles and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall ahead of the annual Order of the Garter service at St George's Chapel on June 13, 2022
The Queen pictured being driven in a royal Range Rover on her 96th birthday, which she celebrated at Sandringham on April 21, 2022
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Louis of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 5, 2022
The Queen leads the lighting of the principal beacon at Windsor Castle as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations on June 2, 2022
The Queen shocked even members of her own family by appearing alongside Paddington Bear in a sketch to kick off the Platinum Party at the Palace gig
The Queen delighted millions of viewers by appearing in a surprise comic sketch with Paddington Bear to kick-start the Party In The Palace Platinum Jubilee concert on June 4
The celebrations involved a flypast from 71 aircraft, with senior members of the Royal Family watching from the Buckingham Palace balcony. Above: The Red Arrows trail red, white and blue smoke at the end of the flypast
Members of the public fill The Mall ahead of a flypast over Buckingham Palace, during the Trooping the Color in London, Thursday, June 2, 2022
Prince Harry and Meghan made a low key appearance at the first day of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. They were seen on a balcony on Horse Guards Parade, after being denied a place on the Buckingham Palace balcony due to the fact they are no longer working royals
The Queen is seen with her eldest son Prince Charles on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Her Majesty poses with her son and representatives from the NHS whom she had awarded the George Cross
The next day, The Queen watched on television as her family and hundreds of other guests packed into St Paul's to pay tribute to her.
It was Harry and Meghan's first joint engagement in two years, but the couple were kept apart from Prince William, Kate, Prince Charles and Camilla and left separately.
It was announced that day that Her Majesty, a keen horse racing fan, would also miss the Epsom Derby, an event she has attended on dozens of occasions throughout her reign.
On the final day of the celebrations, a two-mile pageant told the story of her life, and the nation, with an eccentric and imaginative carnival-like display.
The Queen appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony at the end of the day, where she watched a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
Her Majesty was seen turning to Prince George and asking: 'Wow! Did you expect that?' after the anthem rendition.
In a message of thanks after her appearance, she acknowledged her absences in previous days but said her 'heart' had been with well-wishers.
In a further sign of her devotement to duty, she also said she remained 'committed to serving' the nation to 'the best of my ability' - a promise she kept.
Her reign will define the British monarchy for centuries. In 2015 she passed Victoria to be Britain's longest-reigning monarch and at her death was both the longest-reigning and the oldest-ever ruler in the 1,100-year history of the English crown. Her 73-year marriage to Philip was the longest for a sovereign.
The Queen took such records in her stride. On turning 80, she quoted Groucho Marx: 'Anyone can get old,' she said. 'All you have to do is live long enough.'
Queen Elizabeth II seen on Monday, April 25 - the week after she celebrated her 96th birthday - being driven on the Sandringham Estate. The Queen has been staying on the Sandringham Estate since arriving by helicopter in mid April
The Queen attends an audience with Switzerland's president Ignazio Cassis at Windsor Castle on April 28
A new portrait of the Queen released by The Royal Windsor Horse Show to mark the occasion of her 96th birthday
The Queen with her youngest son Prince Edward opening the Elizabeth Line of Crossrail at Paddington Station earlier in May
Above: the Queen visiting the Chelsea Flower Show in May. She appeared at the event in a chauffeur-driven golf buggy
February 4, 2022: In photos released to mark Her Majesty's 70 years on the throne, The Queen paid tribute to her father, choosing to wear the aquamarine and diamond clip brooches he gifted her for her 18th birthday in April 1944.
May 11, 2021: Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, proceeds through the Royal Gallery before delivering the Queen's Speech during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords at the Palace of Westminster in London
Queen Elizabeth II is given a tour by Keith Weed, President of the Royal Horticultural Society during a visit to The Chelsea Flower Show on May 23
March 9, 2020: (From left) The Queen, Prince Charles, his wife Camilla, Prince William and Kate at Westminster Abbey
The Queen held onto Prince Andrew's elbow with her left hand and had a walking stick in her right at Westminster Abbey on March 29, 2022
November 17, 2020: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Oak Room at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, looking at their homemade wedding anniversary card, given to them by their great grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, ahead of their 73rd wedding anniversary on November 20
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are photographed at Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands in 1972
The Queen and Princess Anne attend a function at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna during a State Visit to Austria on May 7, 1969
Through such longevity Elizabeth inevitably experienced personal lows as well as great national highs, but won deeper admiration for the stoicism she showed in the face of adversity and her ability to remain untainted by scandals that occasionally engulfed her family.
She famously declared 1992 her 'annus horribilis', after it saw a devastating fire gut Windsor Castle and the marriages of her children Anne, Charles and Andrew all falter.
Five years later she steered the Crown through its gravest crisis since the abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII, when Princess Diana was killed in a Paris car crash.
And in the last years of her life she faced her grandson Harry exiting royal life and entering into a war of words with 'The Firm' after moving to California with wife Meghan rather than continue living in Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
The Sussexes also carried out a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, and Harry is planning to release a tell-all book.
In January 2020 the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shocked the world by announcing their intention to step down as senior royals.
Buckingham Palace said all were 'saddened' by their decision to permanently step down as working royals, but they remained 'much loved members of the family'.
A statement added that the Queen had 'written confirming that in stepping away from the work of the Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service'.
But the Sussexes hit back with a statement of their own, saying: 'We can all live a life of service. Service is universal.'
Sex allegations dogged her second son Andrew, the Duke of York, who settled his legal battle in New York with accuser Virginia Giuffre in February 2022 without the civil case having to go to trial. But the Queen also had to ensure he was removed from royal life and stripped him of his honorary military titles.
Besides his appearance at the memorial service for Prince Philip, Andrew was not seen in public at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
July 8, 2021: Queen Elizabeth II meets actors and members of the production team during a visit to the set of Coronation Street at the ITV Studios at Media City UK in Manchester
Prince Charles and Princess Diana kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in July 29 1981 - but their marriage would end in 1995
27 July 2012: British actor Daniel Craig (L) playing James Bond escorting Britain's Queen Elizabeth II through the corridors of Buckingham Palace in 2012 for an extraordinary and funny film for the London 2012 Olympics
June 29, 2021: The Queen receives First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh
June 28, 2021: The Queen attends the Ceremony of the Keys on the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh
June 23, 2021: Queen Elizabeth II greets the then Prime Minister Boris Johnson at an audience at Buckingham Palace. This was the Queen's first in-person weekly audience with the Prime Minister since the start of the coronavirus pandemic
March 19, 2021: Queen Elizabeth II during a video call with Camilla to thank volunteers from the Royal Voluntary Service
He had been set to attend the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's but then pulled out after testing positive for coronavirus.
The disgraced Duke of York was also listed on the order of service during Garter Day but did not appear at the actual event. It was later reported that Prince William and Prince Charles had lobbied the Queen to ensure he did not feature in public.
Despite the turbulence with members of her family family, the Queen remained a steadfast figure throughout.
She was composed, pragmatic and private, relying on her unshakable Christian faith to support her through the darkest moments.
And she also calmed the nation when faced with the global coronavirus pandemic, assuring Britons in March 2020 that the nation's history 'has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one'.
Born in Mayfair on April 21, 1926, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York was niece of the King, third in line to the throne and unlikely ever to ever be crowned. That afforded 'Lilibet' and her sister Margaret a sheltered if privileged upbringing.
But in 1936, when she was just 10, her uncle abdicated, making her father King and changing her destiny forever.
Just 16 years later, Elizabeth came to the throne as a rather shy 25-year-old, ruling over a nation that had lost much of its power in the world and an empire that was crumbling fast.
Yet, she surprised many by emerging stronger than ever from the winds of change, steering the monarchy safely through an era of storm as well as calm.
She refused to be panicked as public weariness at the antics of some younger members of her family led to a deeply damaging collapse in popularity and threatened to undermine the old-fashioned values of stability, honesty and hard work embodied by the Queen.
Through trials and tribulations, the Queen never lost her overwhelming sense of duty to the nation and it repaid her with an appreciation that often stood in marked contrast to its view of other royals.
The Queen recognised the worth of traditional values in a changing world - but refused to be bound by them.
December 8, 2020: Queen Elizabeth II talking with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in the quadrangle at Windsor Castle to meet and thank members of the Salvation Army and local volunteers and key workers from organisations and charities
November 7, 2020: Queen Elizabeth II inspecting a bouquet of flowers placed on her behalf at the grave of the Unknown Warrior during a ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior
September 7, 2020: Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi outside The Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor after their wedding with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh
July 17, 2020: Captain Sir Thomas Moore receiving his knighthood from the Queen during a ceremony at Windsor Castle
June 1, 2020: Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle ahead of his 99th birthday
May 31, 2020: Queen Elizabeth II riding Balmoral Fern, a 14-year-old Fell Pony, at Windsor Home Park in Berkshire
March 9, 2020: The Queen and Charles attend the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day
As a long reigning constitutional monarch, her knowledge and professionalism were unparalleled.
Fourteen prime ministers came and went during her reign, from Sir Winston Churchill to Boris Johnson. Liz Truss was her 15th.
She was Head of State, the Armed Forces, the Commonwealth and the Church of England, but also a wife, a mother of four and Granny to eight grandchildren and Great-Granny to 11 great-grandchildren.
Her whole world, family and daily surroundings were steeped in British history.
The Queen spent more than two-thirds of her life on the throne and in September 2015 at the age of 89, she became Britain's longest ever reigning monarch, overtaking her royal ancestor Queen Victoria.
Like Victoria, the Queen celebrated a Diamond Jubilee, becoming only the second British monarch to complete 60 years on the throne.
She was the longest reigning still serving monarch in world - taking the title after the death of the revered Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej in October 2016.
Critics saw the Queen as remote, out of touch, less modern and less approachable than other European royals. But supporters heralded her as a great British institution and deserving of respect.
Public adoration peaked during the Silver Jubilee of 1977, the Golden Jubilee of 2002 and Diamond Jubilee of 2012.
However, the Queen's 50th year on the throne in 2002 saw her suffer the devastating double blow of losing both the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret within weeks of one another.
With the death of her beloved mother, it was left to the Queen to take on the role as the Royal Family's matriarch.
The Queen talks with veteran Charles Boyer, a resident of the Appleton Lodge care facility in Kent, on November 6, 2019
Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords on October 14, 2019
US President Donald Trump smiles with the Queen during the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in London on June 3, 2019
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their newborn son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019
Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photo after she recorded her annual Christmas Day message for 2018 at Buckingham Palace
The Queen at Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 with her grandsons William and Harry and their wives, Kate and Meghan
Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh during the polo at the Guards Polo Club, Windsor Great Park on June 24, 2018
The Queen at Hyde Park in London to mark the 70th anniversary of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery on October 19, 2017
Elizabeth II is pictured here next to husband Prince Philip and other royals at Buckingham Palace on December 8, 2016
Queen Elizabeth II with her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, at Windsor Castle in a photograph taken just after Easter 2016
Queen Elizabeth II meets locals during her Diamond Jubilee visit to the Isle of Wight on July 25, 2012 in Cowes
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh pose for a family photo after William and Kate's wedding on April 29, 2011
The Queen and Prince Philip sitting in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in a photograph issued on April 7, 2011
The Queen speaking to the Commonwealth in her 1980 Christmas Day Broadcast on BBC One
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Sandringham in 1970
As monarch, she served as a focus of national pride through conflicts in which British servicemen paid the ultimate price in her name.
She was a figure of continuity as her country changed in the 20th century, through the Millennium and in the 21st century, from new technological advances to a succession of British governments of different political persuasions.
Lately, the Queen had begun to make a number of concessions to her advancing years including cutting down completely on long-haul travel and getting other members of the family to undertake investitures on her behalf which involved her standing on her feet for more than an hour at a time.
A temporary handrail was installed in the steep steps outside St Paul's Cathedral for the Queen and Prince Philip, then 95, to use at a service to celebrate the monarch's 90th birthday in 2016.
She was also seen using a walking stick at some of the last engagements - but has reportedly dismissed any talk of her using a wheelchair.
The Queen also relinquished more than two dozen of her most high-profile patronages as she took another step back from royal duties, with Charles, Prince William, Prince Edward, Princess Anne and their partners taking up the slack.
During her lifetime there was unprecedented change. Penicillin was discovered, man landed on the Moon, Britain got its first woman prime minister and the internet was invented. She was a constant for the UK and the Commonwealth in those times.
Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photograph with Princess Diana and Prince Charles in 1980, who married one year later
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip sort through a basket of mail on the occasion of their 25th wedding anniversary in 1972
The public looked to the Queen in times of crisis or tragedy - September 11, the London bombings, the death of Diana and, more recently, the coronavirus pandemic.
After the Princess of Wales was killed in a Paris car crash in 1997, millions of mourners were left wondering why the Queen took so long to speak publicly about the tragedy.
The royals were perceived as being unemotional and criticised for their reserve.
At the time, the Queen was doing her duty as a grandmother, consoling the heartbroken Princes William and Harry at Balmoral.
Aides acknowledged important lessons were learned in terms of what the public expected from the royals in times of grief.
Ironically, it was probably the Queen's early recognition that the monarchy needed to be modernised as the traditional class barriers of British society were eroded that led to its later difficulties.
Soon after acceding the throne on the premature death of her beloved father, George VI, in 1952, she began to sweep aside some of the more open signs of class distinction and royal mystery.
The Queen introduced the idea of 'walkabouts' - haphazard but happy meetings with people in the crowds thronging the streets around official visits - and refused to drop them despite security worries.
The annual 'coming out' presentation of debutantes at Buckingham Palace was ended in 1958 and garden parties, receptions and lunches were extended to an ever wider cross-section of society.
Gone for ever was the long accepted idea that 'society' was confined to the few people suitable for presentation at Court.
A significant watershed - and probable beginning of the idea of the royals as soap opera - came in the late 1960s with the filming of the TV documentary Royal Family.
Smashing viewing records around the world, it gave the first intimate glimpse of the Queen and her relatives at play as well as at work.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip with their baby son, Prince Edward on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on June 13, 1964
The Queen and Philip with then US president John F Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline, at Buckingham Palace on June 5, 1961
But it also whetted the appetite of a royal-crazy world for public revelations about long-protected private lives.
The prolonged silence observed by the press barons of the 1930s over the affair of Edward VIII, then Prince of Wales, and American divorcee Wallis Simpson became inconceivable in the modern day.
If the Queen presided over a sea-change in the way the Royal Family was perceived, she also handled with great skill and statesmanship the massive social and political upheavals of the post-war world.
She helped steer the transition of the British Empire into a looser grouping of Commonwealth nations bound together by ties of friendship as well as tradition.
Many newly-independent states chose to drop her as Queen, but she undertook the titular role of Head of the Commonwealth and attached great importance to its work.
Like the 14 prime ministers who served her at home, dozens of Commonwealth heads of state drew on her great experience for help and advice, gathered over several decades of extensive overseas trips.
Prince Philip stepped down from doing public engagements in 2017, but was still by the Queen's side throughout his final years before his death in April 2021.
Now the huge job of leading the country has been left to her son Prince Charles, who has an enormous challenge on his hands - and will certainly not be monarch for anywhere near the length of time as his devoted mother.