Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Queen's portrait by David Bailey reissued for monarch's anniversary




 The photograph shows the Queen wearing sapphire jewellery given to her by King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947. Photograph: David Bailey/AFP/Getty

Queen's portrait by David Bailey reissued for monarch's anniversary

2014 portrait of Elizabeth II reissued to commemorate 65th anniversary of monarch’s accession to the throne


Monday 6 February 2017


David Bailey portrait of the Queen has been reissued to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the monarch’s accession to the throne.
The photograph shows the head of state wearing a suite of sapphire jewellery given to her by King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947.
Sapphire is the 65th anniversary gemstone and the King’s gift to his eldest daughter, then Princess Elizabeth, featured a glittering necklace, dating from 1850 and made of 16 large oblong sapphires surrounded by diamonds, with a pair of matching sapphire and diamond drop earrings.
The Queen has added a sapphire and diamond tiara – made from a necklace that originally belonged to Princess Louise of Belgium – and a bracelet 1963 to the collection to complement the original pieces. She had the necklace shortened and the largest stone made into a pendant.
The photograph was taken and first issued in 2014 after being commissioned for the government’s “Great” campaign, which aims to promote the UK abroad.
Bailey took a number of portraits of the monarch, and when the Duke of Cambridge saw them during a visit to a “Great” event in Shanghai the following year, he said: “I love them”.
The photographer, whose famous sitters include the Kray twins, Diana, Princess of Wales and the Beatles, said at the time of the commission: “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Queen. She has very kind eyes with a mischievous glint. I’ve always liked strong women, and she is a very strong woman.”

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