Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-serving British monarch. She became Queen at age 25, and reigned for 70 years.

Here, we look back at her coronation and 1953–54 tour to Aotearoa New Zealand – the first ever tour by a reigning monarch. Crowds flocked to see the young Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, during their six-week visit. An estimated 3 out of 4 New Zealanders saw them, and many treasured the memory with souvenirs like these.

Today, New Zealanders hold diverse views about the monarchy, but the Queen is widely respected for the dignity and grace she brought to her royal duties.

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Ko Kuini Irihāpeti te Tuarua te ariki mau roa rawa o Peretānia. 25 ōna tau ka whakawāhia ia hei Kuini, ā, 70 tau tōna kuinitanga.

Nei ka titiro whakamuri ki tōna whakawāhinga me tana hāereere i Aotearoa Niu Tireni – ko te tipi haere tuatahi tonu tēnei nā tētahi o te whare ariki. Ka karapinepine atu e te tini ngerongero kia kite i te Kuini pūhou me tana hoa rangatira, arā, ko Piriniha Piripi, i te wā o tā rāua tipi haere i roto i ngā wiki e ono. E whakapae ana ka 3 i roto i te 4 o ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i kite i a rāua, ā, ka mau tonu te kaingākautanga ki tēnei maharatanga mā ngā taonga manatunga pēnei i ēnei.

I tēnei rā, he huhua ngā whakaaro o ngā tāngata o Aotearoa mō te arikitanga, heoi ka whakamihia tonutia te Kuini mō te āhua rangatira me te aroha noa o tana kawe i āna mahi ariki.

Caption

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II, 1926–2022, 2022. Photo by Maarten Holl. Te Papa