Buckingham Palace has released a new portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the eve of celebrations to mark her Platinum Jubilee.
The 96-year-old said she had been inspired by the outpouring of goodwill ahead of the celebrations to mark her 70 years on the British throne.
Her jubilee will be marked by four days of events, parties and parades, beginning on Thursday (UK time).
"Thank you to everyone who has been involved in convening communities, families, neighbours and friends to mark my Platinum Jubilee, in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth. I know that many happy memories will be created at these festive occasions," she said.
"I continue to be inspired by the goodwill shown to me, and hope that the coming days will provide an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved during the last 70 years, as we look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm."
The new portrait — by photographer Ranald Mackechnie — shows the monarch smiling by a window in the private apartments at her Windsor Castle home, to the west of London, where she now spends most of her time.
Recent health problems — including contracting COVID-19 in February and ongoing back issues — have seen the Queen appear less frequently in public this year, missing important events such as reading the Queen's Speech in person, instead deputising her eldest son and heir, Prince Charles.
Damian Lewis among those honoured by Queen
More than 1,000 people were honoured in the Queen's Jubilee birthday honours list that was released ahead of the celebrations.
Actor Damian Lewis — known for his work in Homeland and Band of Brothers — was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services both to drama and to charity.
Together with his late wife, Helen McCrory — who starred as Polly Gray in Peaky Blinders — Lewis initiated a campaign to raise one million pounds to provide food for health service workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elisabeth Murdoch — the daughter of media baron Rupert Murdoch and founder of two successful independent TV production companies — was given a CBE for her work with the Arts Council England.
The oldest recipient on the list was 104-year-old Angela Redgrave, founder and principal of the Bristol School of Dancing.
Reuters/ABC
