Queen Elizabeth II: A life in pictures

Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she visits Cyfarthfa High School and Castle on April 26, 2012

During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II was the longest reigning monarch in British history.

In September 2015, Elizabeth overtook Queen Victoria's record of nearly 64 years as the U.K.'s longest reigning monarch. After the death of Thailand's King Adulyadej, Elizabeth became the world's longest-reigning monarch.

One of the most traveled world leaders, the queen was a patron to hundreds of charities.

CNBC looked at some of the British monarchs most memorable moments.

A portrait of Princess Elizabeth (L) | Princess Elizabeth with two corgi dogs at her home (R)

The first child of the Duke and Duke of York was Elizabeth. Princess Margaret Rose was born in 1930.

Lilibet ascended to the throne more quickly than anyone had anticipated. King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 due to his relationship with a divorced American. Her father became King George VI.

Then-Princess Elizabeth learns how to change a car tire as an auxiliary officer of the English Army, 1945.

Elizabeth joined the auxiliary Territorial Service at the age of 18. She became a junior commander by the end of the war.

The royal family at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip met at the wedding of Philip's cousin, Princess Marina of Greece. The couple were officially engaged in July 1947. They got married at the abbey.

The royal family at Buckingham Palace, London, 1972. Left to right: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Edward and Prince Charles.

The first child of Elizabeth and Prince Charles was born a year later. After Elizabeth ascended to the throne, her two children, Charles and Princess Anne, were followed by Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh wave from the balcony at Buckingham Palace during the queen’s coronation celebrations June 2, 1953.

King George VI died at the age of 25. The first British coronation to be televised was held on June 2,1953.

Queen Elizabeth with Audrey Callaghan (right), wife of then-Prime Minister James Callaghan, during a visit to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, Nov. 10, 1977.

Many organizations and charities are represented by members of the royal family A royal is listed as a patron by more than 3000 groups. The queen has been a patron of over 600 organizations in the last few years.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip arrive for Day Two at the Royal Ascot Racecourse on June 17, 2015

Being a member of the royal family means going to a lot of events. As an avid racegoer and owner of several horses, Elizabeth looked forward to going to the Royal Ascot race in June.

Queen Elizabeth II records her Christmas message to the Commonwealth, in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace

The British royal family has a core part in ceremony and ceremonyry. Elizabeth made the annual Christmas speech and attended the parade.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are joined by members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Elizabeth wasn't the only one who undertook national duties.

President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II and first lady Michelle Obama arrive at Winfield House.

Elizabeth traveled around the world a lot. She met a lot of important people in Europe. She met with all but Lyndon Johnson.

After the death of Diana, Elizabeth was criticized for staying at a Scottish castle for several days, but her relationship with the British public was always warm. Princes Andrew and Harry were prepared for their mother's funeral by staying at Balmoral.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip ride in the Golden State Carriage at the head of a parade celebrating the queen’s Golden Jubilee, June 4, 2002

The United Kingdom celebrated 50 years of Elizabeth's reign in 2002. The Duke of Edinburgh and the queen traveled to every region of the UK and Commonwealth to celebrate the occasion.

The queen with a firefighter inspecting damage at Windsor Castle.

The damage from the fire at Windsor Castle took years to repair. The queen declared 1992 to be anannus horribilis due to a number of events. The separation was announced in March. Princess Anne had a divorce from Capt. MarkPhillips. Princess Diana wrote a tell-all book. Charles had an affair with another woman.

A message from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is displayed on a screen in Piccadilly Circus, during the early days of the Covid pandemic, London, Britain, April 8, 2020.

The queen made a rare video speech on April 5, 2020, in order to assure her subjects that they would prevail over the coronaviruses.

Queen Elizabeth takes a photograph while with her corgis at Windsor Park in 1960 in Windsor, England.

The queen loved corgis and other animals. The queen acquired two puppies, a corgi she named Muick and a dorgi, a cross with a dachshund, as her husband was being treated for his final illness. The pup died of a heart problem at the age of 5 months.

The official wedding family photo of the royal family from the wedding of Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle.

Keeping up with appearances and official photographs was one of the many tasks the queen undertook.

Queen Elizabeth II (upper left) watches as pallbearers carry the coffin of Prince Philip during his funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, Britain, April 17, 2021.

The queen sat alone as her husband was laid to rest. Philip passed away at the age of 99. Four days before Elizabeth's birthday, the funeral was held.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, along with Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of Trooping the Colour parade during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in London, Britain, June 2, 2022.

During the first day of her Platinum Jubilee, the queen made an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. She waved to tens of thousands of people gathered below and watched an aviation display in her honor but was not able to attend many of the events because of her declining health.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, left, welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government, Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2022.

Liz was appointed prime minister by Elizabeth during a meeting at her castle. The meeting was part of a routine in which the queen appointed a new prime minister. She appointed Truss from Scotland instead of going to Buckingham Palace as usual.