The breathtaking moment the Queen unveils new portrait of herself
In honour of 100 years of the Royal Air Force Club, Queen Elizabeth has unveiled a new portrait of herself.
The painting, which was concealed behind a red curtain, drew gasps from the audience as it was revealed at the anniversary event.
Her Majesty looked pleased with the outcome of the image, which shows her sitting in a drawing room in Windsor Castle, wearing a light blue dress with her Launer London handbag sitting beside her.
The Queen unveils a new portrait that was commissioned to celebrate 100 years of @TheRAFClub. Started in February 2018 and set in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, the portrait was painted by Benjamin Sullivan – who won the BP Portrait Award in 2017. pic.twitter.com/4ZkETFJrPD
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 17, 2018
The Queen’s handbags rarely make it into her portraits, however, one appeared in her official 90th birthday photos because Mike and Zara Tindall’s daughter, Mia, was holding it.
Reportedly, the 92-year-old monarch owns more than 200 Launer handbags, starting her collection in 1968 when designer Sam Launer first sent her one.
During the event at the RAF club, the Queen chatted with guests and admired a new stained glass window feature, which was commissioned to pay tribute to the role women have had in the RAF over the past century.
She is also took her gloves off to sign the visitors book, revealing her favourite nail polish colour, Essie Ballet Slippers.
The portrait includes a number of @RoyalAirForce elements: the background features a Spitfire from 253 Squadron which the artists grandfather, F/Lt JM Sullivan, flew over Albania during WW2. The image on the right is a portion of ‘Hurricanes in Flight‘ (1944), by Eric Ravilous. pic.twitter.com/Bn7CgYTUT4
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 17, 2018
The Queen’s relationship with the RAF and the British army is historic.
Earlier this month, the former husband of Camilla, Andrew Parker-Bowles, revealed the Queen’s “most ghastly” day of her life was on July 20, 1982, when the Irish Republican Army attacked London.
"[Queen Elizabeth] said to me it was 'the most ghastly day of my life'," he told The Express.