These newly resurfaced photos offer a rare glimpse into the childhood of Queen Elizabeth II.
The royal family just shared a slideshow on Instagram featuring photos from Queen Elizabeth’s princess days. Not only does it feature a handwritten note from the late monarch (who was 11 years old at the time), but it also includes a rare portrait of then-Princess Elizabeth with her parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother.
The first photo shows a note written in red color pencil by Queen Elizabeth, where she congratulates her parents on their coronation (not to be confused with King Charles’s upcoming event).
“To Mummy and Papa,” she wrote. “In Memory of Their Coronation. From Lilibet.” Although her full name was Elizabeth, her nickname was “Lilibet.”
Queen Elizabeth concluded the message by confirming that she wrote it “By Herself.” She even underlined it for good measure. The second portrait features Elizabeth standing with her parents and her sister, Princess Margaret.
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In the caption, the Royal Collection Trust explained the significance of the photos. “Today, as we look at King George VI Coronation in 1937 as part of our #MonarchMonday [crown emoji] series, we’re featuring a very special memory of the day from the eleven-year-old Princess Elizabeth, later Queen Elizabeth II.”
The caption continued, “The front cover of her account is visible here, and we’ve shared a quote below, as well as a photo of the young princess in her coronation dress standing with her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister, Princess Margaret.”