Britain's Royal Family released an official Diamond Jubilee portrait of Queen Elizabeth adorned with jewelry from The Royal Collection in honor of her 60th anniversary as Britain’s Monarch.
The Queen is wearing the State Diadem (crown), a circlet of diamonds, created in 1820. She wears this during the procession to and from the State Opening of Parliament, and she wore it on her Coronation Day, for the procession to Westminster Abbey.
The Queen is also wearing Queen Victoria’s Collet Necklace which has been worn by five generations of Royal Ladies (Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) and the present Queen). Queen Victoria (The Queen’s great-great grandmother) wore this necklace for her own official Diamond Jubilee photograph, issued in 1897.
On the blue Garter Riband (or sash) The Queen is wearing the Royal Family Orders of her grandfather, King George V, and father, King George VI.
Her dress is made of white silk, satin and lace with silver colored sequins. The dress has a flowing scalloped edge, and was created in Buckingham Palace by Miss Angela Kelly. In the background is the Queen Victoria Memorial.
The portrait was taken by John Swannell in the Centre Room in Buckingham Palace in December 2011. It is one of two commissioned Diamond Jubilee photographs of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh that were released Sunday.
“This is the third time I’ve had the pleasure of photographing Her Majesty, and I always find these events very exciting,” Swannell said. “The Queen and Prince Philip, I thought, were patient and very relaxed on the day, which I hope is reflected in the photographs.”
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne of Great Britain on Feb. 6, 1952, upon the death of her father King George VI. She is only the second monarch to celebrate diamond jubilee of her reign.