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Queen Elizabeth II's reign in pictures

Britains Queen Elizabeth II makes her first Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth from Sandringham House, Norfolk.

Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952 when her father died of cancer. In this photo she is making her first Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth.

Queen Elizabeth II poses with the royal sceptre 02 June 1953 after being crowned solemnly at Westminter Abbey in London. Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen in 1952 at age 25.

She was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953 when she was 25. Here she is holding the royal sceptre.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is driven from Euston Station with Prince Andrew (closest to camera) and Prince Edward after they returned to London from Balmoral.

The Queen had two more children - Prince Andrew was born in 1960 and Prince Edward, the baby in this photo, in 1964.

British pop group The Beatles outside Buckingham Palace after receiving their MBEs in 1965.

In 1965 the Queen awarded pop group The Beatles with MBE awards. The Fab Four from Liverpool had millions of screaming, adoring teenage girl fans. Recognise the guy middle-right? Fast forward to 2012 - Paul McCartney was the headline act at the Diamond Jubilee Concert.

Queen Elizabeth II opening the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, East London.

In June 1957, The Queen opened the Cutty Sark in London. The former tea clipper was put on display for the public to visit.

The Queen looks at her reflection in a commemorative plaque at the Cutty Sark.

She visited the Cutty Sark again in April 2012 to re-open the attraction. It had been destroyed in a fire but restored by conservationists for the public to enjoy again.

Queen Elizabeth II presenting the Jules Rimet trophy to the England captain, Bobby Moore.

When England won the footy World Cup in 1966, Her Majesty was there to hand the trophy to England captain Bobby Moore.

The Queen before her Christmas broadcast in 1967.

Here's The Queen preparing for her Christmas broadcast in 1967. The colour photo really shows off all the gold!

Queen Elizabeth II arrives at St Pauls Cathedral, in the Gold State Coach, for a ceremony marking her Silver Jubilee.

Crowds came to see The Queen in her golden carriage in 1977 as she attended a ceremony to mark her Silver Jubilee - that's 25 years on the throne.

The Royal Wedding Group in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace on 29th July 1981 with the bride and groom, TRH The Prince and The Princess of Wales, in the centre.

In July 1981, Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. They went on to have two children together - Prince William and Prince Harry. Can you spot The Queen in this wedding photo?

File photo dated 13/10/1986 of Queen Elizabeth II and President Li Xiannian drinking a toast at a banquet in Beijing. The Queen was the first British Monarch to ever visit mainland China. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Sunday May 20, 2012. See PA story ROYAL Jubilee 1980s. Photo credit should read: Ron Bell/PA Wire

In 1986, Queen Elizabeth II attended a banquet in Beijing with President Li Xiannian. She was the first British monarch ever to visit mainland China.

An aerial view of Windsor Castle showing the damage caused by the fire of 20/11/1992.

Disaster struck in 1992 when Windsor Castle caught fire. It's believed a spotlight set a curtain on fire. It took 250 firefighters 15 hours to put the blaze out. The following year, the Queen opened Buckingham Palace to visitors for the first time, to raise money for repairs.

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother celebrates her 100th birthday from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her daughter the Queen August 4, 2000.

In the year 2000, the Queen Mother turned 100 years old! Thousands of people flocked to the streets outside Buckingham Palace to cheer the longest living royal in the history of the British monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth II in a horse drawn carriage on route to the State opening of Parliament

The Queen Mother died in 2002 aged 102, and The Queen's sister Princess Margaret also passed away. These sad events happened in the year of the Queen's Golden Jubilee - 50 years on the throne.

Queen Elizabeth II with Irish President Mary McAleese after arriving at Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park.

Here's The Queen visiting Ireland last year. She's talking to the then Irish President Mary McAleese. It was the first visit to Ireland by a British Royal in 100 years.

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee logo, designed by a Blue Peter viewer.

This year is The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and a weekend of celebrations are planned.