On what would’ve been Her Majesty’s 97th birthday, the royal family is remembering the late Queen Elizabeth II with the release of an intimate new portrait shot by Catherine, Princess of Wales.
The photograph, which was taken at Balmoral Castle last summer, shows the late monarch in a rare display of casual attire, wearing a blue button-up blouse, a black cardigan, and a green, blue, and red tartan skirt. She sits on a light green tufted sofa surrounded by some of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Early of Wessex, Savannah Phillips, Isla Phillips, Lena Tindall, Mia Tindall, and Lucas Philip Tindall.
This isn’t the first time that Princess Kate, who is well-known for her love of photography, has captured official royal portraits for the family. She has been responsible for various birthday portraits of her three kids—George, Charlotte, and Louis—over the years, as well as for photos of more senior royals, such as Queen Camilla and the late Prince Philip.
Apart from the photo tribute, the royal family also shared a sweet message today about the late queen, who died last September.
“Today we remember the incredible life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on what would have been her 97th birthday,” the royal family wrote on their official Instagram account next to a photo of the monarch wearing a pastel blue dress and a matching hat while carrying a bouquet of flowers.
The note briefly summed up Queen Elizabeth’s legacy as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
“When Her Majesty was born in April 1926, Princess Elizabeth and her family did not expect that she would one day become Queen. Following the abdication of her uncle King Edward VIII in 1936, her father acceded to the throne,” the caption continued. “When King George VI died in February 1952, Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II when she was just 25. Her Majesty went on to be Britain’s longest reigning Monarch – the only one in history to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.”