Queen Elizabeth II has died at the age of 96 after an astounding 70-year reign. It’s difficult to choose just a handful of photographs to illustrate such a long and illustrious life, so we’ve selected a few from her major milestones and family events.

Princess Elizabeth at the age of 2 in 1928.

Princess Elizabeth (right) and her younger sister Princess Margaret (left) taken in 1933.

The royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace in 1937, after the coronation of King George VI.

Princess Elizabeth marries Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.

The royal couple with their children, Prince Charles (L) and Princess Anne (R), circa 1951

Queen Elizabeth II steps down from the plane on her at arrival at London Airport after being recalled from Kenya following the death of her father King George VI in 1952.

Queen Elizabeth II makes her first ever Christmas broadcast to the nation from Sandringham House in 1952.

Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation day, June 2, 1953.

From left to right: Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, in his pram, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, taken in 1965.

Queen Elizabeth II with one of her corgis.

The Trooping the Color ceremony in 1971.

Queen Elizabeth II during a walkabout to commemorate her Silver Jubilee in 1977.

Princess Diana (center) holds Prince William after his christening in 1982, flanked by the queen (right) and the queen mother (left)

The queen making her “annus horribilis” speech in 1992, the year in which Princess Diana’s tell-all memoir was published and a fire broke out at Windsor Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II attends the funeral of Diana, princess of Wales, in 1997.

The queen mother waves to the people alongside Queen Elizabeth II on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on her 100th birthday, on August 4, 2000.

Queen Elizabeth II rides in the Golden State Carriage during her Golden Jubilee parade on June 4, 2002.

Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, mark their diamond wedding anniversary in 2007.

The queen and other members of the royal family attend Prince William and his bride Catherine Middleton’s wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.

Queen Elizabeth II leaves St Paul’s Cathedral after a national service of thanksgiving for her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Queen Elizabeth II recorded a Christmas Day message every year. This picture was taken after filming in 2018 in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II sits alone as pall bearers place Prince Philip, duke of Edinburgh’s coffin during his funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.

Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color parade for her Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince George of Cambridge stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.