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Monday 6 February 2017

Queen in sapphire for 65 years on throne

Portrait of the Queen by David Bailey

A portrait of the Queen by British photographer David Bailey has been reissued for her Sapphire Jubilee, marking 65 years on the throne.
In the photo, the Queen wears sapphire jewellery given to her by King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947.
The Queen has become the first British monarch to reach a sapphire jubilee.
The portrait was among a series taken by Bailey in 2014, with one released for the Queen's 88th birthday that year.
She became the UK's longest-reigning monarch in 2015 at the age of 89.
The photographer's subjects over the years include Princess Diana, the Beatles, and criminals the Kray twins.

Sapphire and diamonds

In the portrait, the Queen, who is now 90, wears a necklace made of 16 large oblong sapphires surrounded by diamonds with a matching pair of drop earrings.
Over the years, she has added to the gifts from her father with a tiara and a bracelet to complement the original jewellery.
It is tradition for the Queen to spend the Accession Day - as the anniversary of the day she became monarch is officially known - in private at her Sandringham Estate and return to Buckingham Palace a few days later.

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