Fascinating photos of the young Queen Elizabeth II

Princess Elizabeth ascended the British throne on February 6, 1952, at just 25 years of age, to become Queen Elizabeth II. Alongside her royal duties, she is a wife of over 70 years and mother to four. Her Royal Highness has managed to successfully fulfill her inherited responsibilities for 65 years, making her the longest-reigning British monarch.

Browse the gallery and take a look at the early days of her life, captured in these fascinating historical photos.

0 / 30 Fotos

Sisters - Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret with Queen Elizabeth and pet dogs in June 1936 in the garden of the Royal Lodge in Windsor. Many years later Queen Elizabeth II would keep corgis, her favorite dog breed.

1 / 30 Fotos

Wartime - Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at Waterloo Station, London. At the outbreak of war in 1939, the two young royals went to stay at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, and later at Sandringham House in Norfolk.

2 / 30 Fotos

Royal Windsor Horse Show -

Enjoying the first day of the Royal Windsor Horse Show in 1947 with the Duchess of Beaufort and Princess Margaret.

3 / 30 Fotos

Engaged - The year also saw her engagement to Prince Philip, born into Greek and Danish royal families. The royal couple married in London's Westminster Abbey.

4 / 30 Fotos

Young women - Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret at the unveiling of the memorial to American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1948. Later that year, Princess Elizabeth would give birth to her first child, Charles.

5 / 30 Fotos

Motherhood - Prince Charles as a newborn in his crib, 1949.

6 / 30 Fotos

Royal Horse Show - The royal couple smile across the aisle at the Royal Horse Show in 1949.

7 / 30 Fotos

Mother of two - In 1950, the future queen became a mother for the second time with the arrival of Princess Anne.

8 / 30 Fotos

Intergenerational - Princess Elizabeth holds her baby daughter Princess Anne after her christening. Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary look on proudly.

9 / 30 Fotos

Young mother - Princess Elizabeth wipes baby Anne's face in an unguarded moment caught by the camera.

10 / 30 Fotos

United States of America - Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip smile as US President Harry S. Truman pauses during a speech in 1951.

11 / 30 Fotos

Canada - The royal couple is given a tour of the Ottawa Public Archives in 1951.

12 / 30 Fotos

Montreal - Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip clearly engrossed in an ice hockey game in Montreal.

13 / 30 Fotos

Girl Scouts - Girl Scouts meet Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip outside the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

14 / 30 Fotos

Visit to Halifax - Arriving at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.

15 / 30 Fotos

Landmark destination - At Niagara Falls during the royal couple's tour of Canada. Note the respectable distance kept by the press corp.

16 / 30 Fotos

The princess and the politician - Princess Elizabeth alongside Winston Churchill at the opening of the International Youth Centre in Chigwell, Essex, UK.

17 / 30 Fotos

The Coronation - While on tour in Kenya in April 1952, word arrived of the King's death. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place on June 2, 1953.

18 / 30 Fotos

Royal tour - On the balcony of Government House, Melbourne. In 1953, the Queen and Prince Philip embarked on a seven-month round-the-world tour, visiting 13 countries.

19 / 30 Fotos

Down Under - Queen Elizabeth inspects a Guard of Honour at Prince's Wharf, Tasmania. She was the first reigning monarch of Australia and New Zealand to actually set foot in these countries.

20 / 30 Fotos

Official duties - Waving from her car during the Royal Tour of Australia.

21 / 30 Fotos

Formal occasion - During the Australian leg of their tour, Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh are greeted by Hon T Playford upon their arrival for a State Banquet at Parliament House.

22 / 30 Fotos

Meeting the troops - The young Queen meets an injured serviceman in Australia.

23 / 30 Fotos

Back in the United Kingdom - Queen Elizabeth disembarks the Royal Barge at Westminster Pier, London, in 1954.

24 / 30 Fotos

Patron of the arts - Queen Elizabeth meets actress Claire Bloom and producer Sir Alexander Korda.

25 / 30 Fotos

A day at the races - Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret enjoy the horse racing at the Epsom Derby.

26 / 30 Fotos

African days - Queen Elizabeth inspects the Royal West African Frontier Force in Nigeria.

27 / 30 Fotos

Historic presentation - Queen Elizabeth presents the trophy to American tennis player Althea Gibson—the first black athlete to cross the color line of international tennis—at the Women's Singles final at Wimbledon.

28 / 30 Fotos

Family outing - Pictured with her husband and two children in a car. Queen Elizabeth II would give birth to Andrew in 1960 and Edward in 1964.

29 / 30 Fotos

Fascinating photos of the young Queen Elizabeth II -