How a princess became Queen Elizabeth

This year, United Kingdom and Queen Elizabeth celebrate the diamond jubilee of her reign as monarch. The four-month tour will take place in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as part of celebrations for her reign which began on February 6, 1952. Elizabeth has overseen some tumultuous times since she became queen on the death of her father George VI in 1952. She presided over the continued dismantling of a centuries-old British empire which spanned the globe under her father, bid farewell to former colonies such as Kenya, Jamaica and Hong Kong, seen the marital indiscretions of her children skewer the royal family's popularity at home, and witnessed an unprecedented outpouring of public grief over the deaths of her divorced daughter-in-law Diana and her mother -- the last British queen to hold the title Empress consort of India. Sir Peter Tapsell, the oldest member of the House of Commons at 82, said, “"For my generation, the abiding memory of our queen is her stunning beauty when she came to the throne. There is nothing more inspiring in the whole world than a beautiful woman." We bring you photos from the early days of Elizabeth’s reign as Queen. Take a look. (Text: Agencies)