Lord Mais, Lord Mayor of London, with the Queen after she unveiled the plaque behind them. It commemorates today's opening of the new London Bridge

Agency: Press Association

This was the colourful scene in the Chamber of the House of Lords during the ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament by Queen Elizabeth II of England here today. The House of Commons is called into the chamber to hear the Queen's Speech, which is an outline of the Government's proposed programme of legislation for the forthcoming parliamentary year

Agency: BIPNA

Prince Philip looks over at the Queen as she reads the Throne Speech opening the third session of the thirteenth Parliament. This marked the first time the Queen has worn glasses for such an occasion. The Royal couple will end their Silver Jubilee visit to Canada on 19 October, departing for the British Caribbean

ITN Reference: 19 October 1977

Agency: United Press International

State Opening of Parliament. Her Majesty The Queen in the state coach seen leaving Buckingham Palace for today's State Opening of Parliament

Agency: BIPPA

Wearing a white fur stole over a two toned panelled gown, The Queen accompanied by Lord Delfont, in the foyer of Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London this evening, en route to the Royal box for the Royal Variety performance which aids the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund. This year's performance is dedicated to the Dance, and hosted by Hollywood legend, Gene Kelly

Agency: Press Association

Windsor Ball. At last night's Royal Ascot ball at Windsor Castle (2nd left to right) singer Sarah Payne; Prince Edward; actor Ian Charleson; The Queen; lyricist Tim Rice (behind Queen); composer Andrew Lloyd-Webber; theatre director Trevor Nunn, and the Duke of Edinburgh. Prince Edward recently invited Lloyd-Webber and Rice to write a piece of music as birthday presents for his royal parents. Called "Cricket" and directed by Nunn it was performed during the ball

Agency: Press Association

Photographer: Ron Bell

Queen Elizabeth and local game warden Richard Prickett look over the scenery in front of the famous Treetops Lodge in northern Kenya where she became Queen in 1952

Agency: United Press International

Photographer: Gary Kemper

Darwin, Australia. The Queen stops to chat to a group of aboriginal children during a "Meet the People" walk along [text missing]

Agency: Unknown

The Queen has a word with some of the young children and their parents who were at Darwin airport to greet her at the start of her visit to Australia

Agency: Associated Press

Something reminiscent of the British Raj. Queen Elizabeth II of England appears as if riding in a palanquin, the ancient mode of carriage befitting monarchs and nobility in India, carried by masquerading schoolgirls of St Thomas School. The Queen actually walked behind the curtained palanquin

Agency: United Press International

Photographer: Ramesh Pande

Queen Elizabeth walks with Chief Wellington Staats during a visit to the site of the Chapel of the Mohawks. The Queen spent the day touring the Southern Ontario

Agency: UPC

Photographer: Julien Lebourdais

Today's radiophoto from Suva. State feast in Nukualofa. Queen Elizabeth II and King Taufa'ahau of Tonga lead Prince Philip and Queen Mata'aho (right) as they make their way to the royal dais for the state feast at Nukualofa, Tonga, today

Agency: Associated Press

Garter Ceremony. The Queen, Sovereign of the Order of the Garter and Royal Garter Knight the Duke of Edinburgh leaving St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle today after the Garter Service

Agency: Press Association

Composite photo for the Queen Mother's 85th birthday. The Queen Mother is pictured age 7 (left), and again in 1938

Agency: Unknown

Composite two images showing formal portraits of the Queen Mother

Broadcast Date: 30 March 2002

Agency: Camera Press

Photographer: Cecil Beaton

Composite picture dated 6 November this year of the Queen Mother and her bandaged right leg when she laid a poppy at the Field of Remembrance at St Margaret's Church, Westminster, London. The Queen Mother was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital for Officers today for a "rest" following a leg injury sustained in Scotland three weeks ago

Agency: Reuter

Photographer: Roy Letkey

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother celebrates her 89th birthday on 4 August 1989. This special birthday portrait was taken by Norman Parkinson at Castle Mey, the Queen Mother's home in Caithness-shire, Scotland

ITN Reference: ROYAL/ELIZ/52

Agency: Camera Press

Photographer: Norman Parkinson

The Nation's most popular mother… the Queen Mother, who celebrates her 83rd birthday this year, looks all set to enjoy Mothering Sunday tomorrow in the bosom of her family, the Royal Family

Agency: Press Association

Photographer: Ron Bell

A new portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, released for publication on her Majesty's 94th birthday on Thursday 4 August 1994. This informal photograph was taken by Lord Snowdon on the morning of the wedding of his daughter Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, on 14 July 1994

Broadcast Date: 4 August 1994

ITN Reference: ROYAL/ELIZ/53

Agency: Camera Press

Photographer: Lord Snowdon

A new portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, released for publication on her Majesty's 94th birthday on Thursday 4 August 1994. This informal photograph was taken by Lord Snowdon on the morning of the wedding of his daughter Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, on 14 July 1994

Broadcast Date: 4 August 1994

ITN Reference: ROYAL/ELIZ/54

Agency: Camera Press

Photographer: Lord Snowdon

Broadcast Date: 8 June 1982

Agency: Express

The Queen Mother who celebrated her 86th birthday on Monday, at Heathrow airport, London today giving an affectionate look at a pet corgi which travelled with her to Scotland. The Queen Mother is staying at her Scottish home the Castle of Mey, Caithness-Shire

Agency: Press Association

The Queen Mother and her brother the Honourable David Bowes-Lyon seated on a canon

Agency: D C Thomson & Company

The Queen Mother and her brother the Honourable David Bowes-Lyon standing on steps

Agency: D C Thomson & Company

An early picture of the Duchess of York (then Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon) dressed in black with the Honorable David Bowes-Lyon (in kilt) at Glamis Castle. Obit

Agency: Popperfoto

Obit

Agency: Press Association

Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was born Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, a strict Scottish family of ancient lineage, on the 4 August 1900 at St Paul's Waldenbury, Hertfordshire, where she spent most of her nursery days with her nurse and family. She married into the royal family at the age of twenty three, and unexpectedly became Queen in 1936, on the abdication of the uncrowned King Edward. In our picture she is standing next to her mother, with her father and eight of her nine brothers and sisters, of whom she is the second youngest. Obit

Broadcast Date: 30 March 2002

Agency: Popperfoto

The Queen Mother with her six grandchildren in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace today after the service of thanksgiving in honour of her 80th birthday at St Paul's Cathedral. They are Princess Anne (seated right) and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones (seated left) with (standing from left) Viscount Linley, Prince Andrew, Prince Charles and Prince Edward

Agency: Press Association

Broadcast Date: 30 March 2002

Agency: D C Thomson & Company

The Queen Mother views a crayon portrait of herself when she visited Doncaster Museum today. With her is Councillor R V C Grainger (right)

Agency: Press Association

Photographer: Reg Bagnall

The Queen Mother unveiling a portrait of herself by artist Michael Noakes at the University of London today to mark her 25 years as its Chancellor. She resigned the Chancellorship in 1980 to be succeeded by Princess Anne

Agency: Press Association

Obit

Agency: Camera Press

Agency: Unknown

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Obit

Agency: Camera Press

Obit

Agency: Press Association

Coronation of King George VI in 1937 when the Queen Mother became Queen Elizabeth. Until then she was the Duchess of York, the title now held by the wife of her second eldest grandson, Prince Andrew. George VI died on 6 February 1952

Agency: Press Association

Obit

Agency: Press Association

The Queen with the King behind her majesty inspecting bunks in one of the deep air raid shelters during their majesties' tour of South London. Obit

ITN Reference: ROYAL/ELIZ/2

Agency: Associated Press

Broadcast Date: 30 March 2002

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Broadcast Date: 30 March 2002

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Agency: Hulton Picture Library

Royal Garter Knights, the Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales walking through the Lower Ward of Windsor Castle in the ceremonial procession of the Order of the Garter to St George's Chapel today for the Garter Service

Agency: Press Association

With cap plumes fluttering in today's summer breeze, the Prince of Wales (left) and his royal grandmother, the Queen Mother, are shown during the procession of The Most Noble Order of the Garter at Windsor

Agency: Press Association