Great Britain’s longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch, Elizabeth II, is 95 today. Born April 21 in 1926, she became queen after her father King George VI died, in February 1952. She was photographed twice by Karsh prior to 1952, in 1943 and ’51. He would go on to work with the Royal Family in 1966, 1984 and 1987.

In this beautiful and popular portrait, Princess Elizabeth is wearing a priceless Cartier necklace, a wedding present from the Nizam of Hyderabad, a king in India.

See more portraits of Elizabeth as Princess and Queen.

Our friends and colleagues in the UK celebrated in style.