If you’ve ever wanted to own a piece of royal history, here’s your chance. A set of nine portrait photos of the Queen from 1963 are currently up for auction.
Taken by photographer Anthony Buckley, the black and white photos show Queen Elizabeth in a diamond tiara with matching earrings and a necklace, as she posed from various angles.
The photos of HRH, who was around 37-years-old at the time they were taken, each measure 8 inches by 10 inches, and were initially given to the Security Printers and Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations so that they could be used on banknotes, coins and postage stamps.
After Buckley’s death in 1993, the original photos were donated to the National Portrait Gallery in 1995. And now, they are being sold by a private collection, with the auction house William George & Co.
“They are important and interesting as it is rare that these pictures, which were used for official purposes, come on the market,” an auctioneer reportedly said of the photos, which are expected to bring in £3,000 (nearly $4,000) when the auction closes on April 23.
“Buckley took nine different photographs as he wanted to achieve the best possible coverage [of] Elizabeth, recognizing that, if successful, the chosen image would have widespread and international usage,” the auctioneer said.
“The different angles and positions were all taken at a single photoshoot, and these examples were the best which were kept and saved once the Queen had approved this final group of images."
