Duke and Duchess of Cambridge celebrate Queen's 70 years of service on IWD 2022

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid tribute to the Queen on IWD. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have paid tribute to the Queen on IWD. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have marked International Women's Day by celebrating the Queen and her 70 years of royal service.

A post on the couple's official Instagram account shared pictures of the monarch through the ages and heralded her for “inspiring a nation” and dedicating her life to service.

In the seven celebratory images, the Queen was seen with various members of the royal family including Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.

Another touching image saw Her Majesty pictured with her late husband, Prince Phillip, surrounded by eight of her great grandchildren, including Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

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"In this very special #PlatinumJubilee year, we celebrate Her Majesty The Queen and her historic 70 years of service on #IWD2022," the accompanying caption read.

"Mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and Head of State, The Queen’s extraordinary reign has been longer than any other monarch in British history – inspiring a nation and dedicating her life to the service of the Commonwealth and its people."

The post was echoed on Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall’s official social media accounts, Clarence House, including the photographs of the Prince kissing the Queen’s hand at a polo match in 1988, and one of the Duchess laughing with the Queen.

The Queen, who appears to have recovered after catching Covid a fortnight ago, reached 70 years on the throne last month – her Platinum Jubilee.

In a further celebration of International Women's Day, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge used Instagram stories to pay tribute to some of the inspiring women they've met over the past year, including Emma Raducanu.

"Happy International Women's Day," a written post shared to stories began. "Today we are celebrating some of the inspiring women we have met over the past year."

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have honoured the Queen's 70-year service on IWD, pictured in June 2012. (Getty Images)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have honoured the Queen's 70-year service on IWD, pictured in June 2012. (Getty Images)

The royal couple paid went on to celebrate seven inspirational women including US open champion Raducanu.

"Emma made tennis history last year when she won the US Open – her strength, will-power and determination is a true inspiration to young sportspeople right around the world," the post shared to stories read.

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Other women celebrated in the series of stories include 15-year-old environmentalist Vinisha Umashankar, who the royal couple describe as "an incredible champion for building a more sustainable world" and Amelia Collins-Patel, one of the youngest women to receive an MBE, which was awarded to her last year in recognition for helping to tackle loneliness in lockdown.

Lynda Sneddon was also praised, whose daughter Mila was diagnosed with cancer before the first lockdown and had to isolate from her father and sister when COVID hit.

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The Duchess of Cambridge met tennis ace Emma Raducanu in September last year and has paid tribute to her on IWD. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for LTA)
The Duchess of Cambridge met tennis ace Emma Raducanu in September last year and has paid tribute to her on IWD. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for LTA)

Mum Jumaima Koroma was also hailed as helping to support other young mothers as a graduate of Eve Lina London Children's Charity, having overcome adversity herself, as was Asheigh Taylor, who has been supporting vulnerable young people in Wales for the past 15 years establishing Hwb in Blaenavon.

The Duke of Cambridge meets Betty Magee in May 2021. (Getty Images)
The Duke of Cambridge meets Betty Magee in May 2021. (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, the couple also paid tribute to the "lovely" Betty Magee, who served in the RAF in the Second World War and they said "made us all laugh when she asked for a kiss at Queen's Bay Lodge care home in Edinburgh".

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