Queen Elizabeth's Unbelievable Photo Ops During Her Life From The Beatles to Marilyn Monroe
Queen Elizabeth II was one of the most famous people in the world. Throughout her 70-year reign, she had unbelievable photo-ops with some of the most iconic stars and famous figures in history.
She met a whopping 13 US presidents, including Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford,Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden. The only president she did not meet during her reign was Lyndon B. Johnson, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts and political pressure amid the Vietnam War. Elizabeth also met four popes: John XXIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.
She didn't limit herself to rubbing elbows with political figures. Elizabeth was known to meet with a variety of people across academic and artistic pursuits, including artists, musicians, and actors. Keep scrolling to see the queen's most unbelievable photo ops.
The Beatles
The Beatles visited Buckingham Palace in October 1965, where the Queen honored them with Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) medals.
Marilyn Monroe
Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe were both 30 years old during their first and only meeting in October 1956 at the film premiere of The Battle of the River Plate in London.
"Apparently, The Queen said to friends at the palace that she thought Marilyn was lovely, but she felt sorry for her," royal author Michelle Morgan told Fox News, explaining that the actress was so nervous "she had licked all of her lipstick off."
John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy
JFK and his wife, Jackie Kennedy, met in June 1961 at Buckingham Palace. The monarch and Prince Philiphosted the American couple during a formal black-tie dinner, the first event of its kind since 1918.
After the dinner, there were reports that the Queen and Jackie had a tense, albeit polite, interaction.
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid activist and the first president of South Africa, developed a warm friendship with Elizabeth. They met several times between 1991 and 2008.
Elizabeth Taylor
The meeting of the Elizabethes happened in July 1976 during a gala dinner at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Taylor was with her husband John Warner.
The Spice Girls
Queen Elizabeth met the Spice Girls in December 1997 at the Royal Variety Performance held at London's Victoria Palace Theatre. The group later met now-King Charles, where Geri Halliwell(Ginger Spice) and Mel B(Scary Spice) famously kissed him on the cheek, with Halliwell calling him "very sexy."
Frank Sinatra
Elizabeth met Frank Sinatra on at least two occasions. The first time was in 1958 at the London film premiere of Me and the Colonel. The second was during a private party in 1983 held at 20th Century Fox studios in Los Angeles.
Charlie Chaplin
Elizabeth met Charlie Chaplin on several occasions, although most notably when she knighted him at Buckingham Palace in 1975.
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill served as the first prime minister during Elizabeth's reign, and they forged a very deep friendship until his death in 1965.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga met the Queen after performing during the Royal Variety Performance in 2009. The photo-op famously featured the singer wearing a high-necked, red latex outfit designed by Atsuko Kudo.
Angelina Jolie
Elizabeth presented Angelina Joliewith an honorary damehood during a private meeting in October 2014. The actress was recognized for her work as a United Nations special envoy to combat sexual violence in war zones.
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This story was originally published April 20, 2026 at 11:07 PM.