The Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II
Portrait 4
While this portrait has several varieties, each variety is copied from a photograph taken by Dorothy Wilding during a single portrait sitting shortly after Elizabeth became monarch. This portrait, in one of its varieties, is the most frequently used image of Queen Elizabeth on world banknotes. The Queen is wearing the George IV State Diadem, created for the coronation of George IV in 1820. Designed with symbols of the rose, thistle and shamrock, the Diadem contains 1,333 diamonds. Queen Elizabeth often wears the Diadem on state occasions. The necklace worn by The Queen, of diamond flowers and leaves, was a wedding present from Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar.
Date of Original Portrait: | 1952 |
Photographer: | Dorothy Wilding |
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Portrait 4a The most common variety of this Portrait is the engraving prepared for the notes printed by Bradbury Wilkinson and Company. This variety of the portrait is distinguished by the heavy shading on Her Majesty's right cheek and the tilt of the head. |
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Portrait 4b The second variety of this portrait, which appears on the notes of The Bahamas and Malta, was designed by Thomas De La Rue. It has less shading on the right cheek and The Queen's head does not have the tilt apparent in the Bradbury Wilkinson portrait. |
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Portrait 4c The portrait on the issues of Malaysia and North Borneo, prepared by Waterlow and Sons, provides a third variety of the Portrait. Similar to the Bradbury Wilkinson portrait, this engraving has cleaner lines and the tilt of the head is less distinct. |
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Portrait 4d This engraving, used only on the notes of the East African Currency Board, is distinct because of the depiction of the eyes of Her Majesty. Appearing slightly more closed than on the other varieties of this portrait, Her eyes seem to be fixed on an object in the distance. This engraving was prepared by Thomas De La Rue. |
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[Image not available.] | Portrait 4e Prepared by Harrisons, the English security printer, this portrait was prepared for use on an essay for an issue of Zambian notes. The Zambian notes were not manufactured and the portrait was never used on an issued note. |
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