Happy 90th Birthday Queen Elizabeth II

Happy birthday! Queen Elizabeth II turns 90 today. Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was born on April 21st, 1926 in London, fist daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. She became Queen on February 6th, 1952 after her father’s death and since the she has reigned as Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and Head of the Commonwealth, becoming the longest-reigning monarch in the British history on September 9, 2015. On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth married Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark from their marriage four children were born: Anne, Charles, Andrew and Edward. She is grandmother to eight grandchildren and great grandmother to five great grandchildren.

Taken by renowned American photographer Annie Leibovitz at Windsor Castle last month, these pictures have been released to mark the Queen’s 90th birthday today. Family: The Queen wanted a portrait of the youngest members of the family - her two youngest grandchildren, who are quite a lot younger than the others, and the great-grandchildren. Pictured left to right: James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary Mountbatten-Windsor, Mia Tindall, the Queen, Princess Charlotte, Savannah Phillips, Prince George and Isla Phillips.

Queen Elizabeth II is pictured with her daughter, The Princess Royal, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

Queen Elizabeth II poses in the private grounds of Windsor Castle on the steps at the rear of the East Terrace and East Garden with four of her dogs: clockwise from top left Willow (corgi), Vulcan (dorgie), Candy (dorgie) and Holly (corgi)

The Queen with her daughter Princess Anne in March 1960 - away from the formalities of royal life, the two women are exceptionally close.

Modern family: The Queen is pictured at Princess Charlotte's christening along with Prince William, Prince George, and the Duchess of Cambridge, holding the little princess. Standing, from left: Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duke of Edinburgh.