Before Princess Diana was making puffy sleeves happen and Kate Middleton was perfecting the art of tiara-wearing, Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth were fashionistas. And while Netflix's The Crown has given British monarchy nerds a glimpse into just how gorgeous Margaret and Elizabeth's clothing was, nothing beats the real royal deal.
1940
Back when she was still a princess, Queen Elizabeth would ride horses at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, which her family used as a country retreat. The grounds feature a tiny cottage which was a gift to Elizabeth from the people of Wales.
1940
Here's Princess Elizabeth chilling at Windsor Castle in the summer. Just your typical teenage girl, destined to be queen. #Same
1942
Here, Queen Elizabeth (right) and her lil' sis, Princess Margaret, are twinning again as they take a leisurely bike ride around Windsor, England.
1942
Before she was on that Corgi grind, Elizabeth (left) was a fan of lhasa apsos. And jaunty blazers, apparently.
1942
Queen Elizabeth spent time as a Girl Guide when she was a teen (England's equivalent to a Girl Scout). Here she is chilling in uniform during summer '42. She was 16 at the time.
1944
Behold, a corgi! This is Elizabeth's puppy Sue hanging on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Elizabeth lived here with her family during the war due to safety concerns.
1944
Another look at the princesses (Margaret's on the right) during their time at Windsor castle. Hat game, strong.
1944
That same year, the princesses (Elizabeth is on the left) dressed in their royal best for a pantomime show. They were actually known to have acted in these shows occasionally, and at one point dressed up as Cinderella and Prince Florizel.
1946
Just catching up on some stamp collecting, you know how it is. (FYI, Elizabeth was 20 when this photo was taken—she'd become Queen six years later.)
1946
Taken around the same time, this lovely photo shows Elizabeth (left) and Margaret lounging around the gardens of the aptly-named Royal Lodge.
1946
Duh, they had a pool.
1946
Elizabeth and Margaret were extremely well educated. Here, the future Queen watches her sister play some casual Brahms in Buckingham Palace's school room.
1947
This adorable picture was taken in Buckingham Palace, and features Elizabeth celebrating her engagement to Prince Phillip. The moment was captured in The Crown's first episode.
1947
A young Elizabeth sits at her desk in Buckingham Palace, possibly studying up on how to be a Queen.
1947
In an unusually candid image, Elizabeth (right) and Margaret enjoy a steam engine ride in South Africa.
1948
TFW you flash-forward one year and suddenly BOOM, style is being served.
Date Unlisted
In the late '40s, Margaret started wearing Christian Dior's "New Look," featuring gorgeously full skirts and a tightly cinched waist.
1948
Suddenly Princess Margaret started looking exactly like Natalie Portman.
1949
And she started serving up lace goals.
1951
Not to mention beauty goals.
Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm, She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.
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