Having spent 70 years as the head of state for the United Kingdom and a host of other Commonwealth countries, it was inevitable Queen Elizabeth II would become as much a cultural icon as a political one.
The monarch sat for more than 200 official portraits throughout her reign, working with artists using techniques ranging from Renaissance-style painting to holographic photography.
A supporter of the arts, she contributed her own ideas when required but was known for being willing to allow modern artists to achieve their own vision.
