Monday 6 February 2017

Her Majesty The Queen becomes the first monarch to reign for 65 years - Sapphire Jubilee

The Queen today marks her Sapphire Jubilee as she becomes the first British monarch in history to have reigned for 65 years.
To mark her latest milestone, a poignant photograph of her wearing a suite of sapphire jewellery given to her by her father King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947 has been issued.
Sapphire is the 65th anniversary gemstone and the King’s gift to his eldest daughter, then Princess Elizabeth, featured a glittering necklace, dating from 1850 and made of 16 large oblong sapphires surrounded by diamonds, with a pair of matching sapphire and diamond drop earrings.
The Queen has added a sapphire and diamond tiara - made from a necklace that originally belonged to Princess Louise of Belgium - and a bracelet in 1963 to the collection to compliment the original sentimental pieces.
She had the necklace shortened and the largest stone made into a pendant.

To mark her latest milestone, a poignant photograph of her wearing a suite of sapphire jewellery given to her by her father King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947 has been issued

To mark her latest milestone, a poignant photograph of her wearing a suite of sapphire jewellery given to her by her father King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947 has been issued
The newly released portrait was taken by David Bailey in 2014, for the Government’s ‘Great’ campaign, which aims to promote the UK abroad.
‘She has very kind eyes with a mischievous glint,’ he said at the time. ‘I’ve always liked strong women, and she is a very strong woman.’
Despite the historic occasion, it was a sense of ‘business as usual’ yesterday as Her Majesty went to church and chatted with well-wishers on the eve of her
‘Back to London this week,’ the 90 year old monarch said as she thanked veteran Royal fan Mary Relph, who had handed her two red roses outside St Peter and St Paul church in West Newton on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.