The late Queen had an unprecedented 70-year reign that saw her devote herself to a life of public service.
And upon her death almost five months ago, people everywhere reflected on her long and extraordinary life, as well as her cheeky sense of humour.
The late monarch marked the start of her Platinum Jubilee year exactly 12 months ago today when she reached the 70th anniversary of her Accession Day.
To celebrate the milestone, she embarked on what proved to be one of her final outings in public as she joined members of the local community in the ballroom of Sandringham House.
While there she chatted to the assembled guests - and appeared to be on sparkling form as she laughed and joked with them.
But one moment near the end of the engagement proved especially funny for those gathered thanks to the late Queen's brilliant quip.
It came after she was asked to cut an iced Victoria Sponge cake with the Platinum Jubilee logo as its decoration.
Lady Dannatt, the Lord-Lieutenant of Norfolk, told the Queen the cake was turned upside on the table for the benefit of the press photographs.
And provoking much laughter, the Queen appeared to roll her eyes and quipped to laughter "I don't matter?"
When it came to cutting the large cake, she then said thinking aloud: "I'll put the knife in, see if it works" and she drove the knife in vertically and left it in place adding "somebody else can finish it off".
On this day last year, the late Queen also issued a celebratory message to her subjects as she marked 70 years as head of state.
She said her reign has been a time of "extraordinary progress socially, technologically and culturally", and said she feels a "sense of hope and optimism" ahead of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations later that year.
She also voiced her confidence that her son Charles - then Prince of Wales - and his wife Camilla would be given "the same support you have given me".
And she also threw her support behind Camilla to be known as the Queen Consort when Charles became King, which became a reality just seven months later.
She said: "When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."
