Before She Was a Queen: Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth's II Childhood and Adolescence

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor was born on April 21, 1926, in London. Her parents were the Duke and Duchess of York — a couple who never expected to sit on the throne. She was the first of two children, her younger sister Margaret arriving four years later. Few people at the time imagined that this baby girl would one day become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.

In her first months of life, Elizabeth was photographed often — a sign of the public fascination that would follow her throughout her life. Her christening, held shortly after her birth, used the same ornate christening robe that royal babies had worn for generations. King George V and Queen Mary were among her grandparents who welcomed her into the family.

The Duchess of York — later known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother — was a devoted and hands-on parent. Early photographs show her holding and watching over her daughter closely, forming a bond that remained strong throughout both their lives.

Elizabeth grew up primarily at 145 Piccadilly, the London home of her parents, and at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park. Her upbringing was guided in part by her maternal grandparents, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, who were closely involved in her early years. She was educated at home by a governess and later by private tutors, excelling especially in history and languages. She also learned to play both the piano and the violin.

By 1928, Elizabeth was a toddler who already attracted the attention of the press. She was regularly photographed with family members, including her grandfather King George V, who took a clear interest in his granddaughter. Her nanny, Clara Knight, was a constant presence in her early life — accompanying her on carriage rides through London and managing her daily routine.

The family made regular visits to Scotland, including stays at Glamis Castle, the ancestral home of the Strathmore family. These trips gave Elizabeth early exposure to the Scottish traditions that she would come to love. At Glamis in 1929, she was photographed watching members of a pipe band perform on the castle grounds — a scene that captured the blend of royal duty and childhood curiosity that defined her early years.

Princess Margaret was born in August 1930, completing the family of four. The two sisters grew up closely together, sharing lessons, outings, and holidays. Photos from this period show them riding tricycles, playing in gardens, and traveling in horse-drawn carriages through London. One of their most treasured gifts was Y Bwthyn Bach — a miniature Welsh cottage given to Elizabeth by the people of Wales — which stood in the gardens of Royal Lodge at Windsor.

From a young age, Elizabeth showed a genuine love of horses and dogs — interests that stayed with her for the rest of her life. She rode ponies in Windsor Great Park and was photographed at horse shows alongside her parents. Her pet corgis, Dookie and Jane, were fixtures at 145 Piccadilly and the Royal Lodge.

By 1932, the two princesses were regular subjects of studio portraits and candid press photos. They were photographed riding a toy rocking horse at St Paul’s Waldenbury in Hertfordshire, playing in sandpiles, and arriving at Ballater railway station in Aberdeenshire — with five-year-old Margaret in the arms of nanny Clara Knight while six-year-old Elizabeth carried her own small attaché case.

In 1933, at the age of seven, Elizabeth was photographed at Abergeldie Castle in Scotland and in a carriage alongside her grandfather King George V. These images captured a relaxed, family-centered life that contrasted with the formality of royal duties. At home in Windsor, she was photographed pushing a toy doll’s pram through the grounds of Royal Lodge — an ordinary childhood moment for a girl on an extraordinary path.

By the mid-1930s, Elizabeth was appearing at public events with greater frequency. She attended the Richmond Royal Horse Show, the Royal Tournament at Olympia, and Children’s Day events alongside her parents. In 1935, she was seated between King George V and Queen Mary in a carriage returning to Balmoral Castle from Crathie Kirk in Scotland — a composed young girl already moving comfortably in royal circles.

May 1935 brought a major public celebration: King George V’s Silver Jubilee. Elizabeth took part in the procession through London alongside her parents, passing Temple Bar and attending the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. It was one of the largest public events she had witnessed as a child, and photographs from the day show her fully engaged in the royal spectacle around her.

Late 1935 brought another royal occasion when Elizabeth served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her uncle, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, to Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott. The ceremony was held privately at Buckingham Palace’s chapel, following the recent death of King George V, which made a large public ceremony inappropriate.

King George V died on January 20, 1936. His son Edward VIII became king, but he abdicated the throne in December of the same year to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée. With no children of his own, Edward’s abdication placed Elizabeth’s father on the throne as King George VI. Elizabeth, at ten years old, went from being a relatively minor royal figure to being heir presumptive — next in line to the throne.

Even as her role expanded, Elizabeth remained close to her corgis and horses. Her dogs were a constant presence in photographs taken at both 145 Piccadilly and Royal Lodge. The Pembroke Welsh Corgis — Dookie and Jane — along with a Tibetan dog named Choo-Choo, appeared regularly in family pictures. These animals were not just pets; they were a central part of daily life for both sisters.

When World War II began in September 1939, Elizabeth was thirteen years old. In 1940, at the age of fourteen, her father appointed her a Counsellor of State, giving her the authority to act in his place during his absence. That same year, on October 13, 1940, she delivered her first public speech — a radio broadcast aimed at children who had been evacuated from London during the Blitz. She spoke calmly and directly, addressing children who had been separated from their families, with Princess Margaret beside her as she signed off.