The royal family is taking a walk down memory lane in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s 96th year.
To celebrate the monarch’s birthday today, the family’s official Instagram account shared a rare throwback picture that was taken when the queen was 2 years old.
In the photo, the young royal is laying on her stomach and supporting her chin with her hands. She’s sporting naturally curly hair, along with a classy white dress and pearl necklace.
“Happy Birthday Your Majesty!” the caption read. “Today as The Queen turns 96, we’re sharing this photograph taken when she was 2-years-old.”
It continued, “Then Princess Elizabeth, she was the eldest daughter of The Duke and Duchess of York and was never expected to become Queen. Her life changed in 1936 when her uncle, King Edward VIII abdicated, her father became King George VI and the young Princess became the heir presumptive.”
It also referenced the queen’s Platinum Jubilee: “Following the sad death of her father in 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II aged just 25, and this year is celebrating 70 years on the throne—a first in British history.”
Ahead of Her Majesty’s birthday, the royal family shared a never-before-seen portrait on social media. The pic (which was taken by professional photographer Henry Dallal) shows Queen Elizabeth posing with two of her horses at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
The caption read, “Taken last month in the grounds of Windsor Castle, the photo is the fourth in a series of photos released by the Royal Windsor Horse Show, following images that celebrated the Golden Jubilee, the Platinum Jubilee and Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday. First staged in 1943, The Queen has attended every single Royal Windsor Horse Show.”
If only 2-year-old Elizabeth knew that she’d eventually make history as Britain’s longest-standing monarch.
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