Diamond Jubilee portrait commissioned

Diamond Jubilee Portrait

The National Portrait Gallery commission the first portrait of HRH The Queen and Prince Philip photographed together, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee

Diamond Jubilee Portrait

A new portrait photograph has been taken of HRH The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, in a joint celebration of the Diamond Jubilee and Prince Philip’s 90th birthday. The photograph will be the first portrait released since the Royal Family group painting in 2000.

Queen Elizabeth Hologram
Chris Levine's holographic image of the Queen

Taken by one of the world’s leading contemporary photographers, Thomas Struth, the portrait was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery. It was taken in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle on 7 April 2011, and forms part of ‘The Queen: Art and Image’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The exhibition will run from 25 June to 18 September at the National Gallery Complex in Edinburgh, and will move to the National Portrait Gallery in London from 17 May to 18 September 2012. The exhibition will also feature pictures and paintings of the monarch dating back to the 1950’s. The new exhibition will no doubt draw in hundreds of spectators, and be one of the highlights of next year’s celebrations.

In the past, The Queen has been photographed by the giants of photography – Annie Lebowitz and Cecil Beaton to name but two. Two of the most memorable are the iconic Westminster Abbey Coronation photograph (by Cecil Beaton) and Chris Levine’s incredible holographic image of the Queen from 2007.

The Diamond Jubilee will mark the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. It is expected that the Queen will become the longest reigning monarch of the United Kingdom; Queen Victoria currently holds this title with a reign of 63 years. Visitors from all around the world are expected to fly to England this year to join in the celebratory events. James Holloway, director of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, said “I am delighted that the Scottish National Gallery has been given the opportunity to show this stunning work for the very first time.”

Click here for more information on the exhibition

Credits: The Queen and Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh
By Thomas Struth, 2011 © Royal Household/ Thomas Struth

Equanimity by Chris Levine © Chris Levine

Read a free online preview of Elizabeth: The Queen our special Diamond Jubilee souvenir magazine.

Published by BRITAIN – the official magazine of VisitBritain – to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, Elizabeth – The Queen charts Her Majesty’s public and personal life during 60 fascinating years at the head of the world’s most famous Royal Family.

Read the first chapter below and order your souvenir copy here

For more information and to order your copy, click here

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