‘ Sapphire Queen’ glows for Canada in photo tribute
LOOKING truly majestic, the Queen displays all her finery in an official photo released by Canada.
She wears a white embroidered dress bearing her Canadian insignia as Sovereign of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit.
The Queen also wears the King George VI Victorian Suite – a diamond and blue sapphire necklace and earrings dating back to 1850. It was given to her by her father as a wedding present in 1947.
Her matching tiara and bracelet were made in 1963 from a diamond and sapphire necklace once owned by Princess Louise of Belgium.
The picture was taken for the Canadian government at Windsor Castle last March by Getty Images royal photographer Chris Jackson.
The Queen, 94, who is head of state in Canada, has made 22 official visits there as monarch. Her last tour before she stopped long- haul travel was in 2010.
Until last year, Canadians could write to their government to request an official portait of the Queen. Now they have to download the picture.