Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has passed away at the age of 96. After 70 years of service, we pay tribute to our longest reigning monarch.

A selection of films, artefacts and documents from the NFSA collection showcase the life of Britain’s longest reigning monarch.

Since her very first visit to Australia in 1954 to her last in 2011, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, has captivated crowds across our nation.

From Bondi Beach surf carnivals to Parliamentary openings, explore some rare footage from our collection of the Royal Family in Australia. 

This newsreel item from 1953 shows the activities of schoolchildren in Australia

Original cardboard box with an image of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the title The Film Story of the Coronation. 

This clip from a home movie, filmed by Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, shows Queen Elizabeth II arriving at Westminster Abbey in a horse-drawn carriage for her coronation on 2 June 1

In this clip from the 1947 film Heir to the Throne, Princess Elizabeth made her most famous pledge, which still rings true today: ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be

Invitation for Melbourne-born Tenor William Herbert to attend, as a member of the choir, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Daybill poster for Australian release of the film Elizabeth is Queen (British Pathe, 1953), documenting the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953.