• The Duke and Duchess of York with their baby daughter in 1926 after her christening in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, where she received the names Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. Getty Images
    The Duke and Duchess of York with their baby daughter in 1926 after her christening in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, where she received the names Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. Getty Images
  • Queen consort Elizabeth holds Princess Margaret's hand as Princess Elizabeth follows, as they attend the wedding of Jean Elphinstone and John Lycett Will in July 1936. Getty Images
    Queen consort Elizabeth holds Princess Margaret's hand as Princess Elizabeth follows, as they attend the wedding of Jean Elphinstone and John Lycett Will in July 1936. Getty Images
  • Commemorative stamps featuring Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose are released to mark King George VI's Coronation on May 12, 1937. Getty Images
    Commemorative stamps featuring Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose are released to mark King George VI's Coronation on May 12, 1937. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at their November 20, 1947, wedding. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II, as Princess Elizabeth, and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, at their November 20, 1947, wedding. Getty Images
  • Princess Elizabeth greeting Winston Churchill at London's Guildhall on March 23, 1950. Getty Images
    Princess Elizabeth greeting Winston Churchill at London's Guildhall on March 23, 1950. Getty Images
  • The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, London. Getty Images
    The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, London. Getty Images
  • HM Queen Elizabeth II with her maids of honour in the Green Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace, at her coronation on June 2, 1953. In selecting six maids, instead of pages, to bear her velvet train throughout the coronation ceremony, the Queen followed the precedent of Queen Victoria. Getty Images
    HM Queen Elizabeth II with her maids of honour in the Green Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace, at her coronation on June 2, 1953. In selecting six maids, instead of pages, to bear her velvet train throughout the coronation ceremony, the Queen followed the precedent of Queen Victoria. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II at the Waldorf Astoria in 1957, during her first official state visit to the United States. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II at the Waldorf Astoria in 1957, during her first official state visit to the United States. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II on board the 'Royal Yacht Britannia' in New York, 1976. Shutterstock
    Queen Elizabeth II on board the 'Royal Yacht Britannia' in New York, 1976. Shutterstock
  • Queen Elizabeth II greets well-wishers in north London during celebrations of her Silver Jubilee, 1977. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II greets well-wishers in north London during celebrations of her Silver Jubilee, 1977. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II meets with Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, during a state visit to the Emirates more than 40 years ago in February 1979. Courtesy Al Ittihad
    Queen Elizabeth II meets with Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, during a state visit to the Emirates more than 40 years ago in February 1979. Courtesy Al Ittihad
  • Queen Elizabeth II appoints Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, as part of her tour of the Gulf States on February 25, 1979. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II appoints Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, as part of her tour of the Gulf States on February 25, 1979. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II sits beside Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum on the sheikh's new dhow, as they are taken on a sightseeing tour of Dubai, on February 26, 1979. AP
    Queen Elizabeth II sits beside Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum on the sheikh's new dhow, as they are taken on a sightseeing tour of Dubai, on February 26, 1979. AP
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Sultan Qaboos at Muscat Palace in Oman during the British monarch’s three-week Gulf tour on February 28, 1979. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II and Sultan Qaboos at Muscat Palace in Oman during the British monarch’s three-week Gulf tour on February 28, 1979. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the Prince and Princess of Wales on their wedding day on July 29, 1981. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II waves from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the Prince and Princess of Wales on their wedding day on July 29, 1981. Getty Images
  • Queen Noor of Jordan, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II and King Hussein of Jordan at Amman Military Airport, for the British royals' state visit to Jordan, on March 26, 1984. Getty Images
    Queen Noor of Jordan, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II and King Hussein of Jordan at Amman Military Airport, for the British royals' state visit to Jordan, on March 26, 1984. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II at the the Windsor Horse Show in 1984. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II at the the Windsor Horse Show in 1984. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother arrive at Westminster Abbey in London to attend the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales on September 6, 1997. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother arrive at Westminster Abbey in London to attend the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales on September 6, 1997. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II stands alongside Prime Minister Tony Blair inside the Millennium Dome at Greenwich, London during the New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 1999. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II stands alongside Prime Minister Tony Blair inside the Millennium Dome at Greenwich, London during the New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 1999. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia (now King Salman bin Abdulaziz), before lunch at Buckingham Palace in London on June 28, 2000. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia (now King Salman bin Abdulaziz), before lunch at Buckingham Palace in London on June 28, 2000. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip ride in the Golden State Carriage at the head of a parade from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee on June 4, 2002. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip ride in the Golden State Carriage at the head of a parade from Buckingham Palace to St Paul's Cathedral celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee on June 4, 2002. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, chat while seated during a musical performance in the Abbey Gardens during her Golden Jubilee visit to Suffolk in July 2002. AFP
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, chat while seated during a musical performance in the Abbey Gardens during her Golden Jubilee visit to Suffolk in July 2002. AFP
  • Queen Elizabeth II with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, viewing a replica of Burj Khalifa during a state visit to the UAE on November 25, 2010. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, viewing a replica of Burj Khalifa during a state visit to the UAE on November 25, 2010. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II walks with Sultan Qaboos, after arriving from the UAE on November 25, 2010 in Muscat, Oman. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II walks with Sultan Qaboos, after arriving from the UAE on November 25, 2010 in Muscat, Oman. Getty Images
  • A performer in the role of Queen Elizabeth II parachutes out of a helicopter hovering above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
    A performer in the role of Queen Elizabeth II parachutes out of a helicopter hovering above the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II speaks during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II speaks during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on July 27, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets with President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in April 2013. AFP
    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II meets with President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in April 2013. AFP
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in England on April 30, 2013. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip greet President Sheikh Khalifa at Windsor Castle in England on April 30, 2013. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II arrives to open a bandstand at Alexandra Gardens in Windsor, the day before her 90th birthday on April 20, 2016. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II arrives to open a bandstand at Alexandra Gardens in Windsor, the day before her 90th birthday on April 20, 2016. Getty Images
  • Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Prince Charles, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Edward welcome Queen Elizabeth II at a star-studded concert to celebrate her 92nd birthday at the Royal Albert Hall on April 21, 2018 in London. Getty Images
    Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Prince Charles, Lady Louise Windsor, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Edward welcome Queen Elizabeth II at a star-studded concert to celebrate her 92nd birthday at the Royal Albert Hall on April 21, 2018 in London. Getty Images
  • Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth II at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 26, 2018 in London. Getty Images
    Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth II at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 26, 2018 in London. Getty Images
  • Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry watch a military fly-past at Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018. AFP
    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry watch a military fly-past at Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018. AFP
  • Queen Rania of Jordan, Queen Elizabeth II and King Abdullah II of Jordan during a private audience at Buckingham Palace on January 1, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
    Queen Rania of Jordan, Queen Elizabeth II and King Abdullah II of Jordan during a private audience at Buckingham Palace on January 1, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images
  • Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019. Getty Images
    Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, are joined by her mother, Doria Ragland, as they show their new son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Prince Harry as they leave after the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor to Thomas Kingston at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 18, 2019. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II speaks with Prince Harry as they leave after the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor to Thomas Kingston at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 18, 2019. Getty Images
  • Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge shows Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, around the 'Back to Nature Garden' garden, that she designed along with Andree Davies and Adam White, during their visit to the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 20, 2019. AFP
    Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge shows Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, around the 'Back to Nature Garden' garden, that she designed along with Andree Davies and Adam White, during their visit to the 2019 RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London on May 20, 2019. AFP
  • President Donald Trump joins the Queen and members of the British royal family for a state banquet to mark his three-day visit to the UK on June 3, 2019. Getty Images
    President Donald Trump joins the Queen and members of the British royal family for a state banquet to mark his three-day visit to the UK on June 3, 2019. Getty Images
  • Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos applaud as they watch a fly past to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth, England on June 5, 2019. Getty Images
    Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos applaud as they watch a fly past to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth, England on June 5, 2019. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II presents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with the Diamond Jubilee trophy after Blue Point's victory at Royal Ascot on June 22, 2019. EPA
    Queen Elizabeth II presents Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with the Diamond Jubilee trophy after Blue Point's victory at Royal Ascot on June 22, 2019. EPA
  • Queen Elizabeth II receives the President of Iraq, Barham Salih, during a private audience at Buckingham Palace on June 27, 2019. Getty Images
    Queen Elizabeth II receives the President of Iraq, Barham Salih, during a private audience at Buckingham Palace on June 27, 2019. Getty Images
  • Queen Elizabeth II formally invites Boris Johnson to become prime minister and form a new government on July 24, 2019. AFP
    Queen Elizabeth II formally invites Boris Johnson to become prime minister and form a new government on July 24, 2019. AFP
  • Leaders of Nato alliance countries, and its secretary general, join Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales for a group picture to mark 70 years of the alliance on December 3, 2019. AFP
    Leaders of Nato alliance countries, and its secretary general, join Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales for a group picture to mark 70 years of the alliance on December 3, 2019. AFP
  • Queen Elizabeth II talks with MI5 officers during her visit to the headquarters of MI5, Britain's domestic security agency, at Thames House in London on February 25, 2020. AFP
    Queen Elizabeth II talks with MI5 officers during her visit to the headquarters of MI5, Britain's domestic security agency, at Thames House in London on February 25, 2020. AFP
  • Queen Elizabeth II leaves the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020. Reuters
    Queen Elizabeth II leaves the annual Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020. Reuters
  • Queen Elizabeth II during her address to the nation and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic, recorded at Windsor Castle on April 5, 2020. Reuters
    Queen Elizabeth II during her address to the nation and the Commonwealth in relation to the coronavirus epidemic, recorded at Windsor Castle on April 5, 2020. Reuters
  • A message from Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on a screen in Piccadilly Circus, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues, London on April 19, 2020. Reuters
    A message from Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on a screen in Piccadilly Circus, as the spread of the coronavirus disease continues, London on April 19, 2020. Reuters

Lifestyle

Queen Elizabeth II at 94: a look back at the life of the world's longest reigning monarch

The royal will celebrate her birthday in more subdued fashion in 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic

Farah Andrews
Farah Andrews
Dubai

April 21, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 94th birthday today, on April 21, 2020. Typically, the Queen has two birthday celebrations, one on her actual April 21 birthday, and a second official birthday on the second Saturday in June. However, this year the celebrations will be much more discreet.

Traditionally, any British royal birthdays or anniversaries are marked with ceremonial gun salutes of honour. However, this year the display has been cancelled, as the monarch considers it "inappropriate" in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

As well as a more subdued private birthday, it has also been announced that the Trooping of the Colour parade, which marks the Queen's official birthday, will not go ahead amid the pandemic.

Click through the gallery above to look back at the life of Queen Elizabeth II, on her 94th birthday. 

At 94, Queen Elizabeth II is the world's oldest and longest-reigning monarch. Born on April 21, 1926, she ascended to the throne in 1952 at the age of 25, following the death of her father, King George VI. She was coronated on June 2, 1953, and will mark the 67th anniversary of her coronation this June.

At birth, it was not expected that Princess Elizabeth would become queen. Her father, George VI, took the throne when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, a divorcee from America.

Lifestyle