When Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee to mark seventy years on the throne, she released a new portrait to mark the momentous occasion. The photograph was taken by Ranald Mackechnie, and the Queen wore a powder blue dress and a beautiful pearl necklace as she smiled warmly. In the background, a blurred view of Windsor Castle can be seen.
When the queen died on September 8th, it became the last official portrait of the late monarch, and Mackechnie has revealed the details of how the photographs came to be, and how the image will go down in history forever.
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Speaking to Insider, Mackechnie revealed that he got asked to take the photograph due to his pre-existing relationship with the Royals.
He had photographed her on several previous occasions, and so was delighted to oblige when another opportunity arose. Mackechnie described his subject as easy to work with as she was often photographed, and when the Queen arrived, he did not have time to be overwhelmed because he was too focused on the task at hand.
He said: "On the day of the shoot, all we had to do was turn up, turn the lights on and wait for her to arrive and put her in position."
Previously, it was decided that the backdrop was set to be the Round Tower at Windsor Castle because it was 'symbolic'.
The photographer says Buckingham Palace's communications department made it clear that this was the background they were really keen on.
According to the Royal Collection Trust website, William the Conquerer built Windsor Castle in the 11th century. Then, in 1170, a building known as the Norman keep was rebuilt as the Round Tower. Following George IV's ascension to the throne in 1820, the Round Tower was raised during an exterior remodel.
Mackechnie told Insider that the tower is the 'hub', and that the building holds "lots of symbolism about the Queen and her place in our society and country and culture".
Mackechnie said he photographed the Queen in the Grand Vestibule, a singular vestibule where monarchs typically host world leaders and international guests, according to the Royal Collection Trust website. This was because it was close to the Queen's private apartment at Windsor, and was an ideal location considering she was facing mobility issues at the time.
You can now buy the historic Daily Mirror commemorating the death of the Queen here: mirror.co.uk/commemorative
