Queen Elizabeth II turns 96 on April 21. Serving as Queen of the United Kingdom since 1952, Elizabeth is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British monarch. She is also the longest-serving female head of state in world history. 

While little is known about Queen Elizabeth’s true personality — she has never done a press interview, for example — there has always been a lot of public intrigue about her life, relationships and personality. The Royal family is often making headlines and fictional accounts of her life have been depicted in films like The Queen and the Netflix drama series, The Crown. 

Queen Elizabeth’s observable traits are similar to those of the Enneagram 9 and ISTJ personality types. 

Enneagram Type 9 “The Peacemaker” 

Enneagram Nines are gentle, agreeable, and motivated by their need for internal and external peace. As an Enneagram Nine, Queen Elizabeth tends to be calm, humble and accepting. She generally goes with the flow and doesn’t reveal strong opinions. In the UK, she’s often represented as a symbol of peace and optimism during difficult times. 

Type 9: Outer Traits 

  • Calm, collected demeanor: The Queen for her soft and stoic presence. In a Vanity Fair article, the author says of the Queen, “She loves receiving guests, and knows how to put people at ease.” 
  • Private: Queen Elizabeth is intensely private when it comes to her personal opinions. One reporter remarked, “The Queen's smartest move is that she lets no one, aside from prime ministers and senior aides, have the slightest idea of her opinion on anything that matters.” 
  • Well-liked: Because of their harmonious nature, Nines are generally liked by most people. Despite many controversies surrounding the Royal family, the Queen’s approval ratings have remained high in the UK. 

Type 9: Inner Experiences 

  • Values harmony and unity: As she has many times in the past, the Queen was a symbol of unity at the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. In a special address, she said, “This time we join with all nations across the globe in a common endeavor, using the great advances of science and our instinctive compassion to heal. We will succeed — and that success will belong to every one of us.”
  • Seek internal and external comfort: Routines and rituals are extremely important to Elizabeth. Maintaining a sense of consistency in their daily life is a source of comfort for many Type Nines. 
  • Conflict-avoidant: Nines prefer to avoid conflict and live simple, peaceful lives. Unfortunately, that is not often the reality for Elizabeth. Due to family issues and the pressure of her role, a source close to the Queen recently revealed that she feels “emotionally and physically exhausted.”

TypeFinder Personality: ISTJ “The Inspector” 

I: Although clearly used to the spotlight, Queen Elizabeth isn’t one to seek attention. She prefers to blend in rather than stand out. And when not occupied by royal engagements, the Queen prefers to spend time alone outdoors with her horses and dogs. 

S: While her position often puts her at the center of global politics and social issues, the intensely private Queen prefers to focus on what can be done now rather than theories or future potential. She is quoted as saying of the royal family, “We are a moderate, pragmatic people, more comfortable with practice than theory.”

T: Pragmatic and logical, the Queen takes her position extremely seriously — and has made many personal sacrifices along the way. Throughout decades of family controversies, Elizabeth always put her role, not her emotions, first. After her coronation in 1953, she vowed, “I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust.”

J: As a Judging personality type, Elizabeth is proper and organized. When compared to her sister, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth was described as a “conscientious, dutiful and orderly” child, whereas Margaret was the more playful, spontaneous and passionate sibling. 

Cognitive Functions 

Si: Above all, the Queen values tradition — a trait which has attributed itself to her longstanding popularity in Britain. “Her unflinching dutifulness and reliability have conferred something beyond charm upon the institution, associating it with stoicism and a certain integrity,” said author Christopher Hitchens.  “I do not think that we should be over-anxious. We can make sense of the future - if we understand the lessons of the past.”

Te: When it comes to matters of diplomacy, Queen Elizabeth is known to be formal and extremely strict about royal protocol (although she has relaxed a few rules over the years). Her adherence to rules suggests that the Queen values Extraverted Thinking.

Fi: Queen Elizabeth values personal responsibility, making her dutifully loyal to her family and her country. As an Introverted Feeling user, her values are extremely important to her. But she can also come across as cold and aloof — as well as have trouble empathizing with others. 

Ne: While typically serious and reserved, the Queen is also known for her dry sense of humor. She enjoys practical jokes — and can give them as well as take them. Canadian politician Michael Ignatieff commented after meeting the Queen in 2010 that he was struck by her "wonderful sense of the absurd." Her quirky wit could be attributed to her inferior Extraverted Intuition. 

More Facts About ISTJs: 

  • ISTJ is the third most common personality type, making up 12% of the general population 
  • On personality trait measures, score as Calm, Stable, Steady, Cautious, and Conventional
  • Among the four highest types in college GPA
  • Personal values include Financial Security
  • Most likely of all types to enjoy a work environment where “everything is done by the book”
Megan Malone
Megan holds an MS in organizational psychology and manages content and brand marketing at Truity. She is passionate about helping people improve their relationships, careers, and quality of life using personality psychology. An INFJ and Enneagram 9, Megan lives quietly in Fort Worth, Texas with her husband and two pups. You can chat with her on Twitter @meganmmalone.