How Tall Was Queen Elizabeth II?
Quick Answer
Queen Elizabeth II's Height
📏 5'3" (160 cm) — later years (CelebHeights)
📋 Peak height: ~5'4" (163 cm)
⚖️ Weight: ~115 lbs (52 kg)
🎂 Born: April 21, 1926, Mayfair, London, England
🌍 Nationality: British
🕊️ Died: September 8, 2022 (age 96)
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Queen Elizabeth II's Real Height Explained
Queen Elizabeth II stood at approximately 5'3" (160 cm) in her later years, according to CelebHeights{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"}. Most sources list her peak height at 5'4" (163 cm), which was likely her measurement during her younger years and the early decades of her reign. By the time of her passing in September 2022 at age 96, she had lost approximately an inch — a perfectly normal amount for someone of her remarkable age.
At her peak of 5'4", Elizabeth matched the average height for American women today. By British standards of her birth year (1926), when average female heights were slightly shorter, she was right at or marginally above average. In her later years, at 5'3", she was slightly below average — but the Queen's stature was never measured in inches. It was measured in decades of unwavering service, and by that metric, she stood taller than almost anyone.
The Queen's petite build at approximately 115 lbs (52 kg) became more apparent in her later years, when she appeared visibly small next to taller family members and visiting dignitaries. Yet photographs consistently show a woman whose posture, bearing, and composure projected an authority that had nothing to do with physical height. She commanded rooms filled with people a foot taller than herself through sheer force of presence and the accumulated weight of a 70-year reign.
The Royal Family Height Comparison
The Queen's height is best appreciated in the context of the family that surrounded her — a family that tended to be significantly taller.
Table: The British Royal Family Heights
| Royal Family Member | Height | Difference from the Queen |
|---|---|---|
| Prince William | 6'2" (188 cm) | +11 inches |
| Prince Harry | 6'1" (185 cm) | +10 inches |
| Kate Middleton | 5'8.5" (174 cm) | +5.5 inches |
| Meghan Markle | 5'6" (168 cm) | +3 inches |
| Queen Elizabeth II | 5'3" (160 cm) | — |
The height contrast between the Queen and her grandsons was remarkable. Prince William at 6'2" had a full 11 inches on his grandmother — nearly a foot of difference. Prince Harry at 6'1" had 10 inches. In formal photos, the Queen's petite frame was unmistakable among these much taller family members, yet she was invariably the visual and ceremonial center of any group.
→ See Queen Elizabeth II vs Kate Middleton side by side
Notable Height Differences
The Queen's height relative to Kate Middleton (5'8.5") was among the most visible contrasts in royal photography. Kate's 5.5-inch advantage — often extended by heels — meant she literally looked down when speaking to the Queen. The visual was a powerful generational juxtaposition: the diminutive, elderly monarch alongside the tall, youthful Princess of Wales.
Against Meghan Markle (5'6"), the Queen had a 3-inch deficit, which was visible but less dramatic than the Kate comparison. Against male family members and visiting heads of state — many of whom stood over 6 feet — the Queen's 5'3" frame was dwarfed in purely physical terms. She met presidents, prime ministers, and world leaders who towered over her: Barack Obama (6'1"), Donald Trump (6'0.5" est.), and dozens of others. In every encounter, the Queen's quiet authority left no doubt about who was in charge.
Her late husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, stood approximately 6'0" (183 cm), giving him about 9 inches on the Queen. Their 73-year marriage was one of the longest in royal history, and the height contrast — Philip tall and ramrod-straight, Elizabeth petite but unwavering — became one of the most iconic visual images of the British monarchy.
How Tall Was Queen Elizabeth II Compared to You?
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Queen Elizabeth II: Height in Context
At 5'3", Queen Elizabeth II was among the shorter heads of state in the world during her reign. Yet she was arguably the most recognizable. Her 70 years on the throne — the longest reign in British history{rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"} — made her the most photographed woman in history, and her compact frame became as iconic as her crown.
Born in 1926 in Mayfair, London, Elizabeth became Queen in 1952 at just 25 years old. She served as a mechanic and military driver during World War II — at the time already 5'4" and in the prime of her physical health. Over the next seven decades, she met every sitting U.S. president from Truman to Biden, presided over the transformation of the British Empire into the Commonwealth, and maintained the monarchy's relevance in an era of rapid social change. All from a frame that never exceeded 5'4".
Her height loss over the decades followed the typical medical pattern: gradual and accelerating with age. By her 80s and 90s, she appeared visibly shorter than in archival photos from the 1950s and 1960s. Her posture, while remarkably upright for her age, showed the slight forward bend that is common in elderly individuals. Yet she continued to carry out public duties, standing for extended periods during ceremonies, well into her 90s.
The Queen's small stature became, in many ways, a visual metaphor. At 5'3", she was shorter than almost every world leader she met, every guard who stood at attention for her, and most members of her own family. Yet she was the center of gravity in every room she entered. Her famous handbag — carried on her left arm in a specific way that was reportedly a signal to staff — became an extension of her presence, a tiny detail in a portrait of quiet, compact authority.
Among other female world leaders, the Queen's height was on the shorter side. Angela Merkel (approximately 5'5") had 2 inches on her, and Jacinda Ardern (approximately 5'5") was similarly taller. But within the British Royal Family across history, Elizabeth's height was not unusual — Queen Victoria was reportedly just 5'0". The monarchy has never been about physical size; it has always been about the crown itself, and Elizabeth wore hers for longer than any British monarch before her.
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Quick Facts About Queen Elizabeth II
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor |
| Height (later years) | 5'3" (160 cm) |
| Height (peak) | ~5'4" (163 cm) |
| Weight | ~115 lbs (52 kg) |
| Date of Birth | April 21, 1926 |
| Date of Death | September 8, 2022 (age 96) |
| Place of Birth | Mayfair, London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Monarch |
| Known For | Longest-reigning British monarch (70 years), served during WWII |
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall was Queen Elizabeth II?
Queen Elizabeth II was approximately 5'3" (160 cm) in her later years and about 5'4" (163 cm) at her peak. She lost roughly an inch of height over her 96 years, which is normal for someone of that age.
How tall was Queen Elizabeth II in cm?
Queen Elizabeth II was approximately 160 cm in her later years, equivalent to 5'3". Her peak height was around 163 cm (5'4").
Was Queen Elizabeth II short?
At 5'3" to 5'4", the Queen was slightly below average height for a woman. However, her commanding regal presence always made her appear larger than her measurements. She was the center of attention in any room regardless of the heights of those around her.
How much shorter was the Queen than Kate Middleton?
Kate Middleton (5'8.5") was about 5.5 inches taller than Queen Elizabeth II (5'3"). The height difference was very visible in photos of the two together.
How much did Queen Elizabeth II weigh?
Queen Elizabeth II weighed approximately 115 lbs (52 kg) in her later years. Her petite, slim frame remained active and remarkably energetic well into her 90s.
Related Celebrity Heights
- Kate Middleton Height: 5'8.5" (174 cm)
- Meghan Markle Height: 5'6" (168 cm)
- Prince William Height: 6'2" (188 cm)
- Prince Harry Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
- Barack Obama Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
- Oprah Winfrey Height: 5'6.5" (169 cm)