Sunday 18 September 2022 11:59 PM Stunning time-lapse photos show the Queen smiling throughout her life and reign trends now

A viral video posted to Twitter on the eve of the Queen's funeral documents how Her Majesty grew up from a young girl to her time fighting in World War II and her eventual rise to the crown, smiling at each step of the way.

The age-progression video starts off with a picture of Lilibet at the age of 1, looking directly into the camera with her blonde hair curled in multiple directions as she wore a white dress and a pearl necklace.

Soon it progresses to show her at the age of five, clutching onto someone's arm as she smiled softly in a pink dress. By the age of 10, she was pictured looking more stoic as her father, George VI, took the thrown.

From there, the video picks up speed, showing her at the age of 14 with a barrette holding her hair back as she wore a light-colored dress to showing her five years later in her uniform as a Junior Commander for the British forces, her hair up under her cap as she looked proud to serve her country.

The next photo in the video jumps a few years later to show Elizabeth smiling in her crown and jewels as she took the throne as Queen at the young age of 25.

It then shows her throughout her seven decades on the throne — at the ages of 32, 36, 41, 46, 51, 56 and 61, beaming into the camera at each age.

Eventually she morphed into the elderly grandmother everyone loved, still wearing her crown and jewels into her late 80s, smiling broadly into the camera each time, up to the last photo taken just last year, when she donned a violet jacket covering a floral top with a matching sun hat.

The video was originally posted on September 8, the date of Her Majesty's death in Scotland, by an Instagram account dedicated to pictures of the Royal Family.

It was captioned: 'RIP Your Majesty, Thank you for your service as the Queen for 70 years and for everything you have done for Britain and Commonwealth.' 

But the video made the rounds again on Sunday when it was posted to Twitter by @HrrysGreySuit and was shared by BBC presenter Jon Kay ahead of the Queen's funeral. 

The video comes as dignitaries from across the world make their way to Buckingham Palace to pay their respects ahead of the Queen's funeral tomorrow.

Newly appointed King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla were seen greeting US President Joe Biden, who arrived in a private car, and French President Emmanuel Macron as well as his wife Brigitte, for a glittering but somber event - the like of which has not been seen since the death of Queen Elizabeth II's father George VI in 1952, more than 70 years ago. 

President of Ireland Michael D Higgins was also pictured being dropped off from a coach along with the former King and Queen Consort of Spain, Juan Carlos and Sofia, as well as Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, before the British royal couple met hundreds of dignitaries, including New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern and Canadian premier Justin Trudeau. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales and other working members of the royal family including the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester joined Charles and the Queen Consort in mingling with guests including Japan's Emperor Naruhito and the Kings and Queens from Holland, Norway and Sweden. 

Many dignitaries had already been viewing the Queen's coffin in the ancient heart of Parliament after being given a VIP timeslot as ordinary mourners who have queued through the night pay their respects with leaders of the free world. 

The Prime Minister Liz Truss and government ministers were also spotted heading towards tonight’s glittering state reception which took place in the picture gallery and state apartments and featured drinks and canapes. 

Many have also compared the state funeral of the Queen, which will see 1,000s world leaders attend, to Nelson Mandela's memorial service in 2013 in South Africa which had to take place in a stadium due to the huge amount of world mourners.