Final unseen portrait of the queen revealed before funeral

Buckingham Palace releases the portrait, which was taken in May, on the eve of the monarch's funeral

On the eve of her funeral, Buckingham Palace released this previously unseen portrait of Queen Elizabeth II smiling with joy. Here 'The National' takes a look back at previous portraits of the queen. PA

This photograph of Queen Elizabeth, at Windsor Castle, was for her platinum jubilee. The image is part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition, on view at Windsor Castle until September 26. Photo: Ranald Mackechnie

This portrait, issued by the Royal Collection Trust, was taken by photographer Dorothy Wilding in 1952, and is featured in the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Accession' exhibition, on view at Buckingham Palace until October 2. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

This portrait of Queen Elizabeth by British artist Lucian Freud was finished in 2001 and caused an outcry. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Reuters

The monarch was featured in Andy Warhol's 'Reigning Queens' series of portraits created in 1985. The pop art print, although not officially commissioned, was later brought into the Royal Collection. The image is a part of 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

This image of Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day on June 2, 1953, was taken by royal photographer Cecil Beaton, and remains one of the most famous portraits of the monarch. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

The portrait of Queen Elizabeth II painted by Pietro Annigoni, was finished in 1956 and commissioned by the Fishmongers Company in the City of London. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. PA

Michael Leonard's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was painted for her 60th birthday, and commissioned by 'Reader's Digest'. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Reader's Digest / Shutterstock

Nigerian artist Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy painted this portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which was commissioned by the Commonwealth to mark her 2002 golden jubilee on March 10, 2002. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

Artist Chris Levine made headlines with his controversial portrait titled 'Lightness of Being', which shows the queen with her eyes closed. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: Royal Collection Trust

The 1963 plaster cast known as the 'Dressed Head' by Arnold Machin, provided the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II to be used on British stamps from 1967. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Getty Images

This recent portrait of the monarch titled 'Algorithm Queen', was painted by an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist called Ai-Da Robot for the platinum jubilee.

Ralph Heimans's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II was commissioned to mark her 60 years on the throne and hung in the Chapter House of Westminster Abbey. The image is a part of the 'Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Coronation' exhibition. Photo: AFP

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On the eve of her funeral, Buckingham Palace has released a previously unseen portrait of Queen Elizabeth smiling with joy.

Taken in May before the platinum jubilee celebrations, the portrait shows the monarch beaming brightly at the camera in her Windsor Castle home.

The queen, who is dressed in a dusky dove blue dress with her hair neatly curled, is wearing her favourite three-strand pearl necklace, pearl earrings and her aquamarine and diamond clip brooches, which were an 18th birthday present from her father George VI in 1944.

The two art deco-style pieces, worn one below the other, were made by Boucheron from baguette, oval and round diamonds and aquamarines.

The queen wore the brooches when she addressed the nation on the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020 and for her diamond jubilee televised speech in 2012.

Queen Elizabeth's jewellery goes on display for Jubilee - in pictures

Queen Elizabeth wearing the Sri Lanka brooch. All photos: Getty Images / Royal Collection Trust, unless specified

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the New Zealand Silver Fern brooch.

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Flame-Lily brooch.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the Canadian Maple Leaf brooch.

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Delhi Durbar necklace.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip pose after the Queen's Coronation on June 2, 1953, in Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the Australian Wattle brooch. Photo: AFP / Royal Collection Trust

Queen Elizabeth II wears the Diamond Diadem as she returns to Buckingham Palace after attending the State Opening of Parliament. PA

The image was taken by photographer Ranald Mackechnie, who also took the jubilee portrait of the queen released to mark the start of national festivities for her 70-year reign.

The queen celebrated her platinum jubilee with the nation three months before she died.

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