A portrait of the Queen reveals an alert and cheerful monarch as she nears her 88th birthday. The new image was created by British photographer David Bailey. The black and white photo, which shows the Queen smiling, was taken in March. She is pictured wearing pearls, and a dress by Angela Kelly, who has served as personal assistant and senior dresser to her since 2002. The constitutional role of the monarch is underlined by the government’s role in the taking of this picture. It was the prime minister who chose the photographer and not the Queen. It’s also a measure of how economics now shapes the royal function. Kings and Queens of England are no longer merely heads of state and defenders of the church. The British monarchy is one of the biggest drivers of tourism in the UK, and brings in an estimated £500m a year from overseas tourism, according to Visit Britain. The photograph, taken at Buckingham Palace, was commissioned on behalf of the government’s “Great” campaign, which aims to promote trade, tourism, investment and education throughout the UK. Over the course of his career, Bailey — appointed a CBE by the Queen in 2001 for services to art — has taken pictures of The Beatles, Diana, Princess of Wales and models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. Bailey grew up in the east end of London and made his name working for Vogue magazine in the 1960s. The 76-year-old said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Queen. She has very kind eyes with a mischievous glint. I’ve always liked strong women, and she is a very strong woman.”Queen’s photograph shows mischief, warmth
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A portrait of the Queen reveals an alert and cheerful monarch as she nears her 88th birthday. The new image was created by British photographer David Bailey. The black and white photo, which shows the Queen smiling, was taken in March. She is pictured wearing pearls, and a dress by Angela Kelly, who has served as personal assistant and senior dresser to her since 2002. The constitutional role of the monarch is underlined by the government’s role in the taking of this picture. It was the prime minister who chose the photographer and not the Queen. It’s also a measure of how economics now shapes the royal function. Kings and Queens of England are no longer merely heads of state and defenders of the church. The British monarchy is one of the biggest drivers of tourism in the UK, and brings in an estimated £500m a year from overseas tourism, according to Visit Britain. The photograph, taken at Buckingham Palace, was commissioned on behalf of the government’s “Great” campaign, which aims to promote trade, tourism, investment and education throughout the UK. Over the course of his career, Bailey — appointed a CBE by the Queen in 2001 for services to art — has taken pictures of The Beatles, Diana, Princess of Wales and models Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. Bailey grew up in the east end of London and made his name working for Vogue magazine in the 1960s. The 76-year-old said: “I’ve always been a huge fan of the Queen. She has very kind eyes with a mischievous glint. I’ve always liked strong women, and she is a very strong woman.”