The Queen at 81
A new photograph of the Queen has been released prior to her forthcoming visit to the USA.
The picture, to mark her 81st birthday, was taken by Anne Leibovitz in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.
Observers are likening the style to that of Cecil Beaton, a famous society and Royal photographer, who was a favourite of the Queen Mother. In fact, a number of commentators have remarked on how like the Queen Mother she now looks.
I expect that will tell the canny Monarch that she’s put on a little weight.
I can’t see any similarity with the Queen Mother. The photo makes me think of Queen Victoria.
By Lilyfromfrance on May 2nd, 2007 at 10:28 am
I think it looks exactly like the Queen Mother. Different people see different things I think. But definately a very thought provoking picture.
By SuffolkSim on May 2nd, 2007 at 11:20 am
I think she looks great – especially to be 81!
By Sarah on May 2nd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Annie Leibowitz lacks Cecil Beaton’s skill at posing the person he photographed. The portrait is marred by the Queen slouching slightly and by the fact that her gown does not fit properly. The Queen’s face should have been turned slightly more to the camera to enhance the Caravaggio lighting effect. That said, the Queen lacks her Mother’s superb posture and tha aura that she had her entire life. No woman in my lifetime combined charm, softness and grace to the extent the Queen Mother did, and at the same time she was every inch a Queen.
By Gigi on May 2nd, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Errrr… I still can’t see the Queen Mother here. She had a kindly, sweet, motherly and a soft expression, while the Queen is impressive and imposing. The only thing is common is the white hair. Or maybe am I blind?
By Lilyfromfrance on May 2nd, 2007 at 4:17 pm
I agree with you, Lily. The Queen resembles Queen Mary facially, not the Queen Mother.
By Gigi on May 2nd, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I like the fact that the dress doesn’t fit quite right. She looks quite chic for 81! And I love the lighting.
By Bex on May 2nd, 2007 at 4:53 pm
I think HM looks divine!!!
By Trudie on May 2nd, 2007 at 11:21 pm
By the way, the Queen and Prince Philip are here in America for a few days, flying into Richmond today and will visit the Jamestown Colony to celebrate the 400th anniversary of its founding. They are also having a private audience with the survivors of the Virginia Tech massacre. All of Virginia is in a tailspin over the preparations for the visit!
By Gigi on May 3rd, 2007 at 3:52 pm
Yes, Gigi, we’re getting TV programmes over here on the Jamestown Colony. Time Team on Channel 4 was the most interesting as they did an archeological dig and found where the first settlement was — on the island. They found a child’s shoe, virtually intact, and were even able to name the child, who was called Virginia.
Oh, and The Star Spangled Banner is an old English folk tune.
By John on May 3rd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
I know very well about the origins of the Star Spangled Banner!
You will also be interested to know that many of our military marching songs (originally calvary songs) are English and Irish folk songs. For example, “Garry Owen” is one of the most employed military march songs in the US Calvary units. Also, the child was named Virginia Dare and is part of the history of that colony but they had not found articles of hers prior to this, I believe. All through the original 13 colonies, you will find street and village/town names, music, architecture and plantings that will remind you of England. We in America cherish our ties to Britain. “Never separate from the Americans,” was the sage and final advice from Sir Winston Churchill to his House of Commons colleagues when he retired from public service. America will never separate from Britain, I am sure of that. We are children who love their Mother and heed the call of ancestral voices from the Island Home we still recall in dreams.
By Gigi on May 3rd, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Not too afraid by the British invasion, Gigi?
By Lilyfromfrance on May 4th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
Not at all, Lily. Americans love the Queen, even as our parents loved King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, who became the Queen Mother, and we all adored Sir Winston Churchill. So many Americans trace their lineage to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (as I do) that we feel as if the British, Royal and non-Royal, are our extended family. You may have read that the Governor of Virginia gave all state employees the day off so they could see the Queen! That was an absolute necessity because if he had not done so, the state would have had to pay massive amounts of paid time off because no one would have shown up for work anyway. Everyone wants to see the Queen!
By Gigi on May 5th, 2007 at 4:11 am
She’ll be in her element today at the Kentucky Derby and staying with her old friend former-Ambassador Farish. Then off to Washingtom DC for a couple of days with the Bush family.
By John on May 5th, 2007 at 10:46 am
[...] myself, although I liked the first portrait, also published on Royal Anecdotes, I think this one may be just a little over the [...]
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