Stunning New Portrait Of Queen Elizabeth II As She Marks Her 65th Year On The Throne

It’s the 65th anniversary on the throne of Queen Elizabeth II today and the royal house has just released a stunning portrait of her taken by David Bailey in 2014 to mark the occasion.

The occasion is particularly special because she’s the only British monarch ever to celebrate her Sapphire Jubilee making her the longest serving monarch. And for a woman who was never meant to become queen, that is even more of a remarkable feat.

The young Elizabeth’s life was changed in 1936 when her uncle, King Edward VIII, abdicated to marry Wallis Warfield Simpson, a twice-divorced U.S. commoner. His brother Albert – Elizabeth’s father became king after that making Elizabeth first in line to the throne. His death in 1952 made the then 25-year-old Elizabeth the queen of England.

As she marks her 65th year on the throne today, the 90-year-old monarch is expected to spend the day quietly at Sandringham, her country estate 110 miles north of London.

But yesterday she was all smiles as she accepted flowers from well wishers who gathered outside the St Peter and St Paul church in West Newton to pay their respects.

She looked radiant in a turquoise outfit paired with matching hat and black court shoes.