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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Russell Myers

Stunning new photo captures Queen off-guard sharing a joke with 'quizzical expression'

The Queen cracks up as she shares a joke with her dresser in a stunning never before seen photograph.

The new portrait, which catches the monarch off-guard and smiling with a "quizzical expression", has been unveiled to mark her Platinum Jubilee.

The relaxed test shot by Rob Munday was taken in 2004 during a photographic session to create the first officially commissioned 3D hologram of the Queen.

Munday's new image - which he has titled Platinum Queen: Felicity - remained unnoticed in his archives for almost 19 years, before he rediscovered it last summer.

The composition sees the Queen reacting to an unscripted and amusing comment made by her close confidante and senior dresser Angela Kelly, as Ms Kelly rearranged her clothing prior to the holographic shoot at Buckingham Palace.

The Queen is seen sharing a joke with a 'quizzical expression' (Getty Images)
The photographer was commissioned by the Jersey Heritage Trust (Getty Images)

Munday said: "The Queen's daily life is so full of responsibility and duty that it was wonderful to see this fleeting moment of relaxation and pleasure.

"It is an uplifting portrait, so different from many of the more sombre portraits commissioned in recent years and a befitting celebration for her Platinum Jubilee."

The portrait was described as capturing "the twinkle in the Queen's eye" and an "almost quizzical expression" demonstrating "the deep bond and trust" between the monarch and Ms Kelly, with the piece dedicated to their 20 years of friendship.

The original holographic portrait of the Queen, titled Equanimity, by artist Chris Levine and holographer Munday, was previously voted visitors' favourite portrait at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The Queen was reacting to senior dresser Angela Kelly's amusing comment (Getty Images)

Two sittings took place and to create a three-dimensional portrait, more than 10,000 images were made.

It was commissioned by the Jersey Heritage Trust to celebrate 800 years of the island's loyalty to the Crown.

In 2012, it appeared on a Jersey £100 banknote and featured on the front cover of Time Magazine's Diamond Jubilee issue.

In it, the Queen wears a white ermine cape, a string of pearls and the famous Diamond Diadem.

It took two sitting to create the image (Getty Images)

Platinum Queen - Felicity was shot using a Dalsa machine vision camera, at the time the fastest and highest-resolution video camera in the world, able to capture 30 frames per second.

Ms Kelly, who is also the Queen's personal adviser, has, with the monarch's agreement, written a book about her service.

She shared details of how the Queen shut herself in her sitting room and spent time "alone with her own thoughts" after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral.

She also revealed how she became the Queen's hairdresser while in lockdown as part of HMS Bubble, the nickname given to the reduced household of dedicated royal staff.

It was unveiled today to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this summer (Getty Images)

The image was unveiled at the Dorchester Collection's 45 Park Lane in London at the launch of Munday's new exhibition of light sculptures, Presence.

Meanwhile, a new Queen's Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteering has been introduced to shine a spotlight on charities working to empower young people.

The one-off addition to the annual Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (QAVS) has been created in honour of the monarch's 70 years on the throne.

Twenty winners will be selected from charities helping 16 to 25-year-olds in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland or across the whole of the UK.

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: "We want to celebrate the important work done by national charities to empower young people with the skills they need to develop and grow.

"This is a fitting way to recognise the 70 years of selfless service Her Majesty has given to this country."

The jubilee award is open for applications until June 17.

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