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12+ Unseen Candid Photos Of The Queen Taken By The Public
1. The Queen in the Bahamas in 1960
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
This gorgeous candid shot shows the Queen in Nassau, the Bahamas on a royal tour back in 1960. She had not long become the Queen and so this would have been one of her first royal tours, dressed elegantly in a sleeveless linen dress with beautiful jewellery.
2. Her speech in Washington alongside President George Bush
Image Source: marieclaire.com
Here we can see a snapshot of Queen Elizabeth in Washington alongside President George Bush in 1991, where she took to the podium to give a speech. This photo was taken by an American fan named Marlene Koenig who was in the crowd amongst other royal admirers.
3. Presenting her husband with a trophy in 1966
Image Source: www.countrylife.co.uk
This rarely seen image was taken back in 1966 which features Queen Elizabeth presenting the winning captain of Britain’s top polo award at Cowdray Park. If you haven’t already recognised him, the winning captain was in fact her husband Prince Philip who received the trophy from her majesty.
4. The Queen driving around Windsor Park in 1979
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
This is one of our favourite candid shots of the Queen which was taken by an onlooker as she drove around Windsor Great Park back in 1979. She looks effortlessly glamorous as she holds the steering wheel with one hand and waves to the public with another.
5. Laughing with a prize-winning bull
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
This is one of the more recent photos taken of the Queen which shows her laughing facing the prize-winning bull at the Great Yorkshire Show. The late monarch attended many public events throughout her 70-year reign and this shot perfectly captures her contagious smile.
6. Opening a new school in Northern Ireland in 1995
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
The Queen made many visits to Northern Ireland during her reign as monarch, including when she went to Armagh to open a new high school in 1995. She looks radiant in a red ensemble with black leather gloves as she holds an umbrella to shield herself from the rain.
7. The 1960 'Trooping the Colour' ceremony
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
Here is a grand image of Queen Elizabeth riding a horse at the ‘Trooping the Colour’ ceremony in 1960. This event is performed every year in London by regiments of the British Army. The tradition dates back to the 17th century marking the birthday of the British sovereign.
8. The Queen feeding an elephant at a zoo in 2017
Image Source: people.com
This amusing snapshot was taken at the opening of a new facility at Whipsnade Zoo’s Centre for Elephant Care in 2017. The Queen can be seen smiling alongside her husband, Price Philip, as they had the pleasure of feeding one of the elephants at the centre.
9. Her 90th birthday celebrations in 2016
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
Queen Elizabeth took over the crown at the age of 25 after he father passed away, so it was a momentous occasion to celebrate her 90th birthday which also marked 65 years on the throne. This candid snap was taken by a member of the public at her birthday celebrations at Windsor.
10. Waving to the camera in 1947 during a visit to South Africa
Image Source: www.express.co.uk
This rarely seen image was taken before the late monarch became Queen, which was during a visit to South Africa back in 1947. She can be seen stood smiling and waving at the camera as she stands in the Royal Natal National Park surrounded by flowers.
11. Princess Elizabeth with her grandmother Queen Mary
Image Source: www.express.co.uk
Here we can see a photo of the late Queen Elizabeth when she was still a princess alongside her grandmother Queen Mary. She would only have been a teenager at the time this picture was taken, posing arm-in-arm with her grandmother as they smile for the camera.
12. Laughing with her son at the 2010 Highland Games
Image Source: people.com
It is always a pleasure to see photos of the Queen smiling and laughing, as this one is no exception. Taken by a member of the public who attended the Highland Games back in 2010, we can see Queen Elizabeth joking around with her eldest son Charles who is now the King.
13. The Queen opening Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool
Image Source: people.com
This wasn’t the reception the Queen usually received during royal visits…but it did make for quite an amusing photo! This was taken back in 2010 when the monarch opened the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. The young boy was clearly overwhelmed by the encounter!
14. Princess Elizabeth with her sister at Balmoral in 1938
Image Source: www.express.co.uk
It is unbelievable to think the late monarch was only 12 years old when this picture was taken back in 1938. We can see her turn and smile for the camera as she plays alongside her sister Margaret in Balmoral which has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family for 170 years.
15. Chatting to children outside the Adlon Hotel in Berlin in 2005
Image Source: people.com
This snap of the Queen was taken by a member of the public in the crowd outside the Adlon Hotel in Berlin back in 2005. Wearing a radiant yellow ensemble, we can see her beaming smile as she converses with the young children who were all excited to see her.
16. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret at Royal Lodge in Windsor in 1940
Image Source: www.express.co.uk
Sometimes we forget that the Queen was once a child before she became reigning monarch of the United Kingdom. Here we see a candid snap of Elizabeth dancing alongside her sister Margaret at the Royal Lodge in Windsor back in 1940 - she would have been 15 years old here.
17. Opening a rail station in Scotland in 2015
Image Source: people.com
This is one of the more recent photos of the Queen taken by a member of the public at the opening of a railway station in Scotland in 2015. This also happened to be the year that she made history by being the longest-reigning British monarch, but that didn’t stop her carrying out her royal duties.
18. Surrounded by her family at a horse show
Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
This is one of our favourite candid snaps of the Queen which shows her kneeling on the grass at a horse show. She is surrounded by her friends and family, including her husband Philip who is reclining next to her on the left. You don’t often see the royal family looking so relaxed.
19. Laughing with an Irish fishmonger at a market in Cork
Image Source: people.com
Throughout her historic long-lasting reign as the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth paid many visits to different places around the world spreading joy to all those she met. This admirable shot captures her laughing alongside a fishmonger at the famous English Market in Cork.
20. The Queen chatting to her dear mother
Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
This photo shows the Queen enjoying a conversation alongside her mother with a camera around her neck as she prepares to take some snaps of her own. She had a particularly close relationship with her mother and they spoke on the phone every morning after breakfast.
21. Playing outside alongside her father King George VI
Image Source: www.express.co.uk
As many of us already know, the Queen took over the crown at the tender age of 25 after her father King George VI sadly passed away. This must have been heartbreaking for all of the family, particularly Elizabeth who had a close relationship with him as we can see in the photo above.
22. The Queen during a royal visit to Yugoslavia in 1972
Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
This is one of the older photos of the Queen which was taken by a member of the public during a royal visit to then-communist Yugoslavia in 1972. Next to her is President Josip Tito who was there to welcome her in full military uniform. He was then invited to Buckingham Palace in 1978.
23. Princess Elizabeth meeting nurses in Guernsey in 1949
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
This beautiful image was taken when Princess Elizabeth was on a royal visit before she became Queen to meet nurses in Guernsey. You can tell how old it is by the quality of the photo, as the nurses stand patiently in line waiting to meet the royal princess.
24. A shot taken at Badminton Horse Trials in 1956
Image Source: www.harpersbazaar.com.sg
Here is another candid shot of the Queen in her early years which was taken by a member of the public at the Badminton Horse Trials back in 1956. She stands elegantly in the field wearing a long dark coat, as the crowd stand behind her watching in admiration.
25. The Queen smiling at Balmoral in the early 1950's
Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
This is another one of our favourite snaps of the Queen in her younger years which was taken at Balmoral in the early 1950s just after she succeeded the throne. Her beaming smile is captured so beautifully here, with her beloved horses in the background.
26. Out and about with her two sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward
Image Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
In this iconic photo we can see the Queen dressed in a smart yellow jacket paired with stylish sunglasses as she tries to get the attention of her youngest son, Prince Edward, as he plays alongside his cousin Sarah Armstrong-Jones who is now Lady Sarah Chatto.
27. The Queen Mother with the Queen
Image Source: marieclaire.com
Here is another photo of the Queen alongside her beloved mother taken by a member of the public, as they walk through a crowd of people who await desperately to catch a glimpse of the royals. They are both dressed in beautiful floral patterned dresses with matching hats.
28. Laughing alongside her husband Prince Philip
Image Source: www.countrylife.co.uk
This lovely photo was taken back in 2014 when the Irish president Michael Higgins visited Windsor Castle. The Queen can be seen laughing alongside her husband Prince Philip as they host the first visit from an Irish president in Britain since independence.
29. The Queen admiring her Christmas tree in 1969
Image Source: www.countrylife.co.uk
The royal family always play a big part in the festive season in the United Kingdom, with people patiently waiting to hear the Queen’s speech each year on Christmas Day. Here we can see a candid snap of the late monarch admiring her decorated Christmas tree back in 1969.
30. Dancing with her fiancé at a ball in 1947
Image Source: www.countrylife.co.uk
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip symbolise a true love story and they were married for nearly 74 years until Philip's death in 2021. This beautiful photo shows the pair dancing at a ball at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh which was their first public appearance after their engagement.
