Buckingham Palace releases new portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as nation and world say a final farewell to an extraordinary lady

 

Royal Family/Twitter

Buckingham Palace released a new portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday, September 18, hours before her state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London.  The Queen smiles broadly in the photo, which was shot in May 2022. 

The Royal Family wrote on Twitter: “The photo was taken to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee - the first British Monarch to reach this milestone.” 

In the portrait, which was shot by Ranald Mackechnie, the Queen wears a soft blue dress adorned with her favourite three-strand pearl necklace and pearl-and-diamond earrings, which have been worn by the late monarch on numerous occasions.  Also adorning her dress was a pair of aquamarine and diamond brooches, which were gifted to her by her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, for her 18th birthday in 1944.

Previously in the official portrait in celebration of her unprecedented Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth posed in a soft dove blue coat and dress with pearl and diamante trim, designed by Angela Kelly, the Queen's wardrobe advisor.

Whether in person or through media coverage around the world, millions come together today to mourn the death of the late Queen but also to commemorate and celebrate her remarkable life.  A farewell to a Head of State, and also importantly, a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.