Queen Elizabeth’s new portrait has a hidden meaning
On Friday, a new portrait was released of the Queen to mark Canada’s 150th “birthday” on July 1.
The portrait was taken by Toronto-based photographer Ian Leslie Macdonald and in the image, the Queen wears the platinum and diamond maple leaf brooch she inherited from her mother Queen Elizabeth.
The significant brooch entered the royal family when Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, gave it to his wife in 1939 for their visit to Canada.
Since inheriting the jewellery upon the death of her mother in 2002, the Queen has loaned it to Camilla, for her first visit to Canada in 2009, and Princess Kate in her 2011 Canada royal tour.
The Queen has followed tradition in lending it to family members as her own mother loaned the brooch to her to wear on her inaugural visit to Canada in 1951.
Prince Charles and Camilla are currently in Canada as the annual celebrations take place.