Queen Mother Elizabeth, from left, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II attend Princess Margaret's wedding in 1960.
Informal portraits of Elizabeth II —
Queen Mother Elizabeth, from left, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II attend Princess Margaret's wedding in 1960.
Loomis Dean/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II watches a University of Maryland vs. University of North Carolina football game at Maryland's Byrd Stadium during her 1957 official visit to the United States.
Informal portraits of Elizabeth II —
Queen Elizabeth II watches a University of Maryland vs. University of North Carolina football game at Maryland's Byrd Stadium during her 1957 official visit to the United States.
Alfred Eisenstaedt—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
The queen speaks at a state dinner in Ghana in 1961.
Informal portraits of Elizabeth II —
The queen speaks at a state dinner in Ghana in 1961.
Paul Schutzer/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth visits Ethiopia in 1965.
Informal portraits of Elizabeth II —
Queen Elizabeth visits Ethiopia in 1965.
John Loengard/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II visits Ethiopia in 1965. <a target="_blank" target="_blank">See the full gallery on Life.com.</a>
Informal portraits of Elizabeth II —
Queen Elizabeth II visits Ethiopia in 1965. See the full gallery on Life.com.
John Loengard/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images
Rare, classic photos of Queen Elizabeth II
CNN  — 

Anyone who has remained in power for longer than many people remain alive – even if that power is far more symbolic than practical – deserves attention. And when it comes to England’s Queen Elizabeth II, paying attention is something the world has been doing for a long, long time.

Here, on the 60th anniversary of her coronation, LIFE.com offers a series of informal portraits of the queen, including several that never ran in the magazine. See the entire gallery and read the full story on Life.com.