UK's Longest Reigning Monarch Queen Elizabeth II Turns 95 — Inside Her Style through the Years

At 95, and after being on the throne for 69 years, she owns the record of the longest reign in British history, so naturally, she has undergone several transformations of different kinds over time.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrated another birthday the past April, and so far age doesn’t seem to have slowed her down a bit. There is no wonder that she is the one in charge, and while this hasn’t changed in some time, she has.

In 2015, she surpassed Queen Victoria as the longest-reigning monarch in British history. But she wasn’t expected to be queen, and only her uncle Edward VIII’s abdication and her father’s early death put her in the throne at age 25.

BORN INTO ROYALTY

Her Majesty was born on April 21, 1926, with the given name Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. She was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York and the older and only sister of Princess Margaret.

Being born early in the 20th century allowed Elizabeth II not only to witness but to take part in the modernization of the world, with technological advances and armed conflicts generated fast changes in the lives of millions.

As the world changed, Elizabeth II evolved and adapted, remaining committed to keeping the British monarchy relevant and relatable to the people in modern and democratic times.

PRINCESS ELIZABETH

When Elizabeth II was born, her father wasn’t known as King George VI, as he was still Prince Albert, Duke of York. It was only when she was 11 that his rule started in 1936, which turned her into the heir to the throne of England.

With such great responsibility on her shoulders, Princess Elizabeth was submitted to a strict routine, and it possibly backfired in a way, as it turned her into an incredibly shy young woman.

But as shy as she was, she never appeared to be so in public, and she was determined to fulfill her role in history. But when World War II came in 1939, she offered her service to the country and became the second subaltern in the Auxiliary Territorial Service of the British Army.

WORLD WAR II

Just as the global conflict exploded, 13-year-old Elizabeth II met her future husband at the royal wedding of Prince George and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. While we know him today as Prince Philip, he was a handsome 18-year-old man named Philip Mountbatten.

The war went on for six years, during which Philip became one of the youngest first lieutenants of the Royal Navy. Meanwhile, Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret were relocated to Windsor Castle for security measures.

But Elizabeth has never been one to just sit and wait while things get sorted out, and she wanted an active role in helping England overcome this challenge. At 14, she left all shyness behind and used her voice to constantly broadcast reassuring messages for the evacuated children of Britain through the radio.

By 1942, she was making official appearances as colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards, taking an active role in inspecting the troops. She also joined the Girl Guides to further support the war efforts of her country.

Only close members of the royal family are expected to visit the Queen as she stays at Windsor Castle.

DUCHESS OF EDINBURGH

Soon after the war ended, Elizabeth became engaged to Philip, and the two were granted the titles of Duke and Duchess of Edinburg in 1947, making their first official appearance together at a Buckingham Palace event that year.

The country had won the war, but it was left with a weakened economy for a while, and there was still rationing of recourses, so Elizabeth had to use ration coupons to get her wedding dress done.

She reportedly had to use ingredients given as a wedding present by the Australian Girl Guides to make the wedding cake. Not long after their first joint appearance, Elizabeth and Philip married, and the following year they welcomed their firstborn, Prince Charles.

A MOTHER AND A QUEEN

When Elizabeth had to assume the throne in 1953, becoming Queen Elizabeth II, she was already a mother of two with Princess Anne arriving in 1950. By 1964, Princes Andrew and Edward had completed the family she and Philip started.

Elizabeth had to rapidly adapt to both being Queen of England and Head of the Commonwealth and a mother of four children, which wasn’t an easy task. She barely had the time to cope with the loss of her father. She was quoted as saying:

“I didn’t have an apprenticeship. My father died much too young and so it was all very sudden. it’s a question of maturing into something that one’s got used to doing [...]."

In the first six months following her coronation, the new Queen embarked on a tour that had her traveling an impressive 43,000 miles. While Philip accompanied his wife, it was very hard for her to be away from her children.

The tour not only cemented her image as the new ruler of the country, but also served as training for her to get used to smile and shake hands with thousands of people. “I don’t have a naturally smiley face,” she once admitted.

Throughout her time reigning the Commonwealth, the Monarch attended several engagements, visiting different charities and schools both local and international, hosted lavish dinners with world leaders, and led different events.

She was either a Royal Patron or president of more than 600 charities, public organizations, military associations, and the like, supporting world issues, including youth-centered foundations and environmental movements.

Some of the Queen's most memorable moments were during her first state visit to West Germany in 1965, marking the 20th anniversary of World War II's end, and her Australian and New Zealand tour with her husband and daughter.

It was in Australia that her Majesty casually walked around the streets of Sydney to greet people instead of waving from a far distance. In 1986, Queen Elizabeth visited China as the first British Monarch to do so.

A STYLISH QUEEN

Due to her role, Elizabeth had to stick to modest outfits that weren’t too revealing, but this didn’t keep her from developing a unique sense of style, often daring to try pretty bold outfits.

She favored fur until it became unacceptable due to ecological conscience, and she became particularly fond of hats in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Elizabeth used fashion to project the image of an avant-garde royal that was up for the fast changes of the world, and as a way to distinguish herself in a crowd.

MATURE YEARS

As the Queen grew old, she settled into a simpler style, mostly wearing coatdresses and matching hats. Wearing bright colors and flamboyant headpieces have lately become her way to always step out among people.

Elizabeth’s longevity and the fact that she was crowned at a young age, allowed her to break several records as a monarch. She is the oldest monarch to have celebrated a Golden Jubilee. She was the first British monarch to celebrate her diamond wedding anniversary and her platinum wedding anniversary.

The queen has seen 12 British prime ministers in office, and 13 US presidents during her reign. She will always be remembered as one of the most iconic royals to have walked this earth.

Queen Elizabeth reached another milestone as she celebrated her 95th birthday, and the first birthday since her reign without her husband, Prince Philip, who passed away on April 9, 2021.

To commemorate the special day, the royal family shared a photograph of her Majesty dressed in a maroon outfit while smiling past the camera. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional festivities will not take place on the Queen's birthday.

Only close members of the royal family are expected to visit the Queen as she stays at Windsor Castle. Although it remains a difficult period to celebrate, many wished the beloved Queen a happy birthday.