The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Portrait

The British Royal Court has published two new portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Queen’s accession, which occurs tomorrow, February 6th.

The portraits were taken in December by Mr John Swannell, who has photographed members of the Royal Family on multiple occassions, including the Golden Jubilee portrait in 2002. One portrait shows the Queen alone, and then with her husband. They were taken in the Centre Room of Buckingham Palace.

In the background of the Queen’s individual portrait, the Victoria Memorial outside the Palace can be seen. Queen Victoria is the only other British monarch to have reached her Diamond Jubilee. Queen Elizabeth wears Queen Victoria’s Collet Necklace in the portrait, in another detail to link the two jubilees (Queen Victoria herself wore the necklace in her Diamond Jubilee portrait).

Queen Elizabeth released a statement in conjunction with the portraits, reiterating that she will serve as Queen for the rest of her life. As has been the case since 1952, abdication is not an option for the 85-year-old. The Queen also said that both she and Prince Philip were “deeply moved to receive so many kind messages about the Diamond Jubilee” and that she hopes this year will allow everyone “to give thanks for the great advances that have been made since 1952 and to look forward to the future with clear head and warm heart.”

Tomorrow, the anniversary of her accession (and the anniversary of her father, King George VI’s death), Queen Elizabeth will attend a private mass in Sandringham before undertaken some small engagements in the area.

Click here to read more about the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

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Tagged Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, Portraits, The Duke of Edinburgh.

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