100 Years Later: Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II

The year 2026 marks 100 years since the births of two of the 20th century’s most influential figures: Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II.

Born just weeks apart in 1926, the Hollywood star and the British monarch came to symbolize very different forms of global fame.

Monroe rose from a difficult childhood to become one of cinema’s most enduring icons, her image and performances still referenced decades after her death at 36.

Elizabeth, meanwhile, ascended the throne unexpectedly and went on to reign for 70 years, becoming a constant presence through war, political change, and the transformation of the modern world.

Despite the contrast in their lives, their paths briefly crossed at a public performance in London, a moment that linked two worlds rarely seen together: Hollywood celebrity and royal duty.

In 2026, their shared centenary invites reflection on how each woman navigated visibility, pressure, and public expectation in her own way.

A century after their births, both remain cultural touchstones, remembered not only for who they were, but for how they shaped the eras in which they lived.