Queen portrait issued for Sapphire Jubilee – BBC News
EP4PRO, February 6th, 2017, in ep4records
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Image copyright David Bailey 2017 Image caption The Queen will become the first British monarch to reach their Sapphire Jubilee
A portrait of the Queen by British photographer David Bailey has been re-issued for her Sapphire Jubilee, marking 65 years on the throne.
In the photo, the Queen wears sapphire jewellery given to her by King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947.
The Queen becomes the first British monarch to reach their sapphire jubilee on Accession Day on Monday.
The portrait is among a series taken by Bailey in 2014, with one released for the Queen’s 88th birthday that year.
She became the UK’s longest-reigning monarch in 2015 at the age of 89.
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The photographer’s subjects over the years include Princess Diana, the Beatles, and criminals the Kray twins.
Sapphire and diamonds
In the portrait, the Queen wears a necklace made of 16 large oblong sapphires surrounded by diamonds with a matching pair of drop earrings.
Over the years, she has added to the gifts from her father with a tiara and a bracelet to complement the original jewellery.
It is tradition for the Queen to spend Accession Day in private at her Sandringham Estate and return to Buckingham Palace a few days later.
Large-scale jubilee celebrations are expected to be reserved for the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, when the monarch will mark 70 years.
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Image copyright PA Image caption The monarch, pictured in 1953, leaving Westminster Abbey after the Coronation
In London, royal gun salutes will commemorate the occasion across the capital.
A 41-gun salute will be fired by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park at midday and a 62-gun salute by the Honourable Artillery Company will be fired at the Tower of London at 13:00 GMT.
During the celebrations, the Band of the Royal Artillery will play music close to the firing position, and 89 horses will pull six World War One-era 13-pounder field guns into position in the park.
At the time of the commission, Bailey said he had “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.”
The portrait was originally commissioned for the government’s “Great” campaign, which was to promote UK trade, tourism, investment and education abroad.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38872538