Never-before-seen portrait of The Queen shows 'twinkle' in her eye: "It was wonderful to see"


A previously unseen portrait of Queen Elizabeth II has been recently revealed in public, just in time for the monarch's Platinum Jubilee, which is happening next month.


In the photograph, the Queen can be seen wearing the Diamond Diadem with a single strand pearl necklace and pearl earrings, but it was her amused expression that made the picture stand out.

Here, the monarch looks as though she is about to break out into a smile – a rare, candid moment showing a side of Her Majesty rarely seen by the people.

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This previously unseen portrait of Queen Elizabeth was hidden in the archives until it was rediscovered recently. Credit: AP.

Renowned photographer Rob Munday was the mastermind behind the lens that shot the rare portrait, which is titled Platinum Queen: Felicity. The photograph is set to be on display for the first time this week to mark the 70 years since the Queen ascended to the throne.

Originally taken in 2004, the photograph was hidden away in his archives until Mr Munday rediscovered it in his collection. It was only supposed to be a 'test shot' to determine the lighting conditions as part of a session to create the first officially commissioned 3D hologram of the Queen.

However, it turned out to be much more special as it managed to capture the "twinkle" in the Queen's eye and her "almost quizzical" expression.

"The Queen's daily life is so full of responsibility and duty that it was wonderful to see this fleeting moment of relaxation and pleasure," said the royal photographer.


He added that the Queen's close aide, personal stylist and dressmaker Angela Kelly was with them that day at Buckingham Palace when he took the photograph.

"The atmosphere was incredibly jovial," he recalled. "Angela Kelly is a very funny woman, very down-to-earth. And really, really nice, she put us all incredibly at ease."

"She would tell jokes, and she'd obviously said something funny to the Queen. And she sort of laughed at that exact moment I pushed the button to do a test shot," he continued.

"Obviously the Queen is very, very comfortable with Angela Kelly, they have this incredible bond, and you can see it," Mr Munday noted, adding that their relationship could be described as almost sisterly.

Kelly's official title is Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty The Queen (Jewellery, Insignias and Wardrobe).


The 7 decades of the Queen's reign have been filled with much solemnity and seriousness, but as she recently reached her 96th birthday, what is often overlooked are her heartwarming smile and her sense of humour.

In the video below, we can see a collection of funny moments the Queen has shared with us over the years:



Credit: HM The King.
 

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