Annie Leibovitz Photographs the Queen and Duke Of Edinburgh for Their Landmark Birthdays
In celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday this year, photographer Annie Leibovitz was tasked with capturing not one but six new portraits of the monarch.
The lauded American photographer has snapped everyone from John Lennon (on the day he was assassinated) to the high-profile women featured in her 2016 Pirelli Calendar. Calling Leibovitz a legend in her field would be an understatement.
The half-dozen photos have been released slowly over the past few months, with Vanity Fair boasting a number of the shots, and now Buckingham Palace has released the final one — just in time for the official birthday celebrations.
The portrait, taken at Windsor Castle just after Easter this year, also features HRH The Duke of Edinburgh — who celebrates his 95th birthday on June 10.
Although her actual birthday was in April, the queen will celebrate the landmark occasion with the world this weekend (as is customary) with a number of national and Commonwealth celebrations.
The royal family will begin the weekend with a Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral today, followed by a lunch for the Governors-General of all Commonwealth Realms at Buckingham Palace. On Saturday, the queen — along with her children, grandchildren and (hopefully) great-grandchildren — will be honored with the annual Trooping the Color ceremony, and appear on Buckingham Palace’s balcony for all to see.
On Sunday, the Patron’s Lunch will celebrate Her Majesty’s patronage of more than 600 organizations. More than 90 percent of those organizations will be represented at the event on the Mall, which will be mirrored by street parties and local fundraising events across the nation and the Commonwealth.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.
