An unseen portrait of the Queen smiling has been released by Buckingham Palace.
The photograph was taken just ahead of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations and depicts the late monarch smiling warmly directly toward the camera.
The Queen wore a light blue dress along with wearing her favourite pearl necklace, pearl earrings and her aquamarine and diamond clip brooches. Her father, George VI, gifted her the items for her 18th birthday.
READ MORE: Prince Harry now allowed to wear military uniform for Queen's vigil
The two art deco-style pieces, oval and round diamonds and aquamarine, worn one below the other, were made by Boucheron from baguette. The Queen wore the brooches when she addressed the nation on the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020 and for her Diamond Jubilee televised speech in 2012.
The image was taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, who also took the jubilee portrait of the Queen released to mark the start of national festivities of her milestone 70-year reign.
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You can light a candle for Queen Elizabeth II here or leave a tribute to her here
