Celebrating The 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Elizabeth II

On 21 April 2026, Queen Elizabeth II would have celebrated her 100th birthday. Notable as the longest reigning monarch in British history, she was a much-loved and respected figurehead for the UK and the Commonwealth. Throughout her 70-year reign, she was widely recognised for her calm resilience, strong sense of duty and unwavering dedication to public service.

The early life of the Queen

Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on 21 April 1926, the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother).

She was not originally expected to accede to the throne, but her life changed dramatically in 1936 when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated. Her father became king and Princess Elizabeth became heir presumptive at the tender age of 10. She married Philip Mountbatten on 20 November 1947 at Westminster Abbey, beginning a partnership that lasted nearly 74 years until Prince Philip’s death on 9 April 2021.

When George VI died on 6 February 1952, while Princess Elizabeth was on a royal tour in Kenya, she immediately acceded to the throne at the age of 25. Her coronation took place on 2 June 1953, at Westminster Abbey, watched by an estimated 20 million people around the world.

A remarkable reign

During her reign, the Queen was served by 15 prime ministers, from Winston Churchill to Liz Truss, and oversaw a period of significant social, political and technological change. She also witnessed the transformation of the British Empire into the modern Commonwealth of Nations.

Her reign was not without its challenging moments though. In particular, 1992 proved to be a difficult year for the royal family, including marital breakdowns and a fire at Windsor Castle, leading the Queen to proclaim it was an “Annus Horribilis”. And in 1997, the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, was another pivotal moment when the Queen addressed the nation in response to an unprecedented outpouring of public grief.

Throughout the years, the public caught glimpses of a lighter side of Her Majesty. During the 2012 London Olympics, she famously appeared in a filmed sketch with Daniel Craig as James Bond. In 2022, she celebrated 70 years on the throne with her Platinum Jubilee, which marked an unprecedented achievement in British history.

Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, signalling the end of a reign that spanned over seven decades.

Commemorative events

To mark the centenary of Her Majesty’s birth, a number of events will take place across the UK and the Commonwealth. These include a major exhibition at Buckingham Palace featuring around 300 items from the Queen’s fashion archive, plus the opening of a Queen Elizabeth II Garden in Regent’s Park, as a lasting tribute to her life and legacy.

As we honour the Queen’s centenary, it is a fitting moment to look back over a truly remarkable reign, characterised by steadfast duty and a lifetime of service.