Queen Elizabeth Wore Gifts from Dad King George VI for Her 18th Birthday in Newly Released Photo

Benjamin VanHoose
·3 min read
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Queen Elizabeth Wore Gifts from Dad King George VI for Her 18th Birthday in Newly Released Photo
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The recently unveiled photo of the late Queen Elizabeth includes a heartfelt accessory.

On Sunday, a day before her state funeral, a previously unseen photo of the Queen was released by Buckingham Palace, showing her smiling inside her home at Windsor Castle. The photo was taken in May to mark Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee, making her the first British Monarch to reach this milestone.

Queen Elizabeth — who died peacefully at her home in Balmoral, Scotland, on Sept. 8 at 96 — was crowned at the age of 25 and had the longest reign in history, 70 years.

According to Lauren Kiehna of The Court Jeweller, the diamond and aquamarine clips worn by the Queen in the photograph are brooches that were gifted to her by her father, King George VI, on her 18th birthday back in April 1944.

The Queen also wore a blue ensemble and her signature pearls (which Kate Middleton has been recently wearing) for the portrait.

RELATED: See Every Member of Queen Elizabeth's Family at Her Funeral

EMBARGOED TO 2230 SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18MANDATORY CREDIT: Ranald Mackechnie EDITORIAL USE ONLY. The photograph shall not be used without permission from Royal Communications. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photograph (including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use). The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form when published. The photograph is free for use until September 25th 2022. Thereafter the portrait is available only via Camera Press. Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of Queen Elizabeth II photographed at Windsor Castle in May 2022. Issue date: Sunday September 18th, 2022.Photo credit should read: Royal Household/Ranald Mackechnie/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.

Royal Household/Ranald Mackechnie/PA Queen Elizabeth

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As the Queen is laid to rest, Prince Phillip, who died at age 99 in April 2021, will be moved from the Royal Vault beneath the chapel, where he was temporarily interred, and put beside his wife. Queen Elizabeth will also be surrounded by family when she's buried at St. George's Chapel, on which construction began in 1475 by King Edward IV and was completed more than 50 years later by King Henry VIII.

Her parents, King George VI, who died in 1952, and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who died in 2002, as well as her sister, Princess Margaret, who also died in 2002, are all interred at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, part of St. George's Chapel.

On Monday, her son King Charles — now the new monarch — placed a handwritten note nestled within the flowers that topped Queen Elizabeth's coffin at her state funeral at Westminster Abbey in London.

The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, in the Ceremonial Procession during her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
The State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard with the Imperial State Crown and the Sovereign's orb and sceptre, in the Ceremonial Procession during her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022. (Photo by Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)

Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Queen Elizabeth's funeral

As seen within the colorful wreath, which featured flowers chosen by Charles from three royal residences, the white card on royal letterhead read "In loving and devoted memory, Charles R."

The King's signature is part of his with his new role as sovereign. The "R" after his name stands for "Rex," which means "King" in Latin, the traditional signature for the monarch dating back to the 12th century. When used by Queens, the "R" stands for "Regina," or "Queen" in Latin. During her historic reign, Queen Elizabeth would sign official communications as "Elizabeth R."

The loving gesture follows tradition within the royal family. At Prince Philip's funeral, the Queen similarly tucked a handwritten note within the white flowers that crowned her husband's coffin. In a sentimental gesture, the monarch signed the card "Lilibet" — her childhood nickname.