Queen Elizabeth II's Most Iconic Beauty Moments Over the Years

Published on Sep 8, 2022 at 4:40 PM

With the news of Queen Elizabeth II's passing, many of us are looking back at her 96 years of life. As the longest-ruling monarch of the United Kingdom, she had quite the eventful reign marked by countless public appearances. Her most iconic beauty and fashion moments span seven decades, from her wedding to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947 and her coronation in 1953 to her attendance at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011 and, a few years later, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018.

Queen Elizabeth II had a signature look. She was known for her polished, tightly curled bob haircut, which was kept brunette until transitioning to white as she got older. She also frequently wore bright pink or red lipstick to match her equally bright ensembles. When she wasn't donning a crown, she loved wearing hats and, in general, had a great affinity for accessories. What many people might not know is that Queen Elizabeth II also had a go-to manicure. She always wore the same neutral-pink color by Essie called Ballet Slippers ($10). She loved the shade so much, she preferred other women in the royal family wear it, too, which is why Middleton and Markle can usually be found in it.

Though her beauty choices were consistently understated, at least compared to her fashion decisions, she always made an entrance no matter where she went. Ahead, take a look back at Queen Elizabeth II's most iconic beauty moments over the years.

Princess Elizabeth's Bob in 1944

Here, Princess Elizabeth posed in her Sea Rangers uniform in 1944 in natural-looking makeup with red lipstick and her signature curled bob.

Queen Elizabeth II's Wedding Updo in 1947

For her wedding to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947, the then-princess went the traditional route. She wore a veil on top of her curled bob, naturally fluffy eyebrows, and a bright lip to finish off the bridal look.

Queen Elizabeth II's Curled Updo in 1952

In 1952, while riding in her state coach, Queen Elizabeth II wore a makeup look similar to the one she had on her wedding day with a red lip and minimal eye makeup.

Queen Elizabeth II's Red Lip in 1953

At their coronation in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II looked regal in a bold red lip with her dark-brown hair curled and sticking out from under her crown.

Queen Elizabeth II's Pixie Cut in 1954

During her tour in Australia in 1954, Queen Elizabeth II accessorized her curled pixie haircut with a white hat, which matched her gloves and bag.

Queen Elizabeth II's Dark Lipstick in 1956

During her 1956 tour of Nigeria, Queen Elizabeth II went for a darker red lip, which stood out against her pale beige gown.

Queen Elizabeth II's Long Bob in 1961

To meet President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961, Queen Elizabeth II's hair was slightly longer but stilled pinned up in its signature style.

Queen Elizabeth II's Neutral Makeup in 1970

In the 1960s and '70s, Queen Elizabeth II wore a slightly longer hairstyle than before with more volume at the roots and sides.

Queen Elizabeth II's Head Scarf in 1982

Queen Elizabeth II was also known for her hair scarves, which she wore throughout her life. She often matched them to her outfits when she wasn't wearing a hat.

Queen Elizabeth II's Fluffy Brows in 1987

In 1987, Queen Elizabeth II appeared in the Green Room at Windsor Castle in a white polka-dot gown. Her blue sash and red lipstick were the only pops of color in her ensemble.

Queen Elizabeth II's Gray Hair in 1998

As Queen Elizabeth II got older, she began to embrace her gray hair color but kept the same style that she wore for most of her life. The biggest change she made was adding more volume to the crown of her head.

Queen Elizabeth II's Monochromatic Makeup in 2005

This photo of Queen Elizabeth II at the 2005 Queen's Cup Final polo match is the perfect example of her many monochromatic beauty looks. She wore an all-pink outfit, a matching hat, and bright-pink lipstick.

Queen Elizabeth II's Pink-Red Lipstick in 2011

As Queen Elizabeth II's monochromatic fashion choices continued at Prince William and Middleton's wedding in 2011, she would occasionally opt for a contrasting yet complementary lip color, like this pink-red hue.

Queen Elizabeth II's Pink Lipstick in 2016

In 2016 while celebrating her 90th birthday, Queen Elizabeth II wore dark pink for a pop of color against her light-green outfit.

Queen Elizabeth II's Curls in 2017

In 2017, Queen Elizabeth II started to wear her hair a bit curlier. Her loose curls were visible under her hat at the Chichester Theatre in the United Kingdom.

Queen Elizabeth II's Deep-Pink Lip in 2018

For Prince Harry and Markle's wedding in 2018, Queen Elizabeth II wore a deep-pink lip and a green-and-purple outfit.

Queen Elizabeth II's Monochromatic Red Lipstick in 2021

During her annual Christmas broadcast in 2021, Queen Elizabeth II went back to the red lipstick that she wore at the start of her reign. In this instance, the color perfectly matched her top.

Queen Elizabeth II's Short Bob in 2022

In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, still wearing her bright lip color, allowed her white bob hairstyle to be a bit looser, giving her look a more modern feel.