He’s been by her side since before she took the crown in June of 1953, and at 95 years old, he appears in Annie Leibovitz’s final photo in the lineup of Liz’s birthday pics.
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But pair the British queen and America’s queen of celebrity portrait photography – plus, her husband of 68 years, Prince Philip – and you have a boffo combo of fame and success.
The queen’s birthday has been a three-month affair starting with her real birthday in April.
The widow was born on the same day as the Queen and in the same year – April 21, 1926 – but the two women have lived very different lives.
Public shows of affection from the monarch and her husband are rare, but there have been a few occasions throughout the years that have given the nation an insight into their close knit relationship.
Like the earlier photos, this one, too, displayed Leibovitz’ widely-acclaimed lush style combined with her empathetic insight.
Other members of the Royal Family due to attend the service are the Duke of York and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor.
Every year, the Queen kick starts the celebrations with a thanksgiving service at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, followed by the Trooping the Colour and an RAF fly past over Buckingham Palace.
Philip’s 95th birthday is yet another record, but he generally prefers to keep his own celebration low-key so as not to interfere with the queen’s official birthday hoopla.
Her birthday will be marked officially – as usual – with the Trooping the Color ceremony Saturday.
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To conclude the celebrations, the queen hosts “The Patrons Lunch” for 10,000 guests at the largest street party to be held on the Mall, the grand avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace, an event organised by her grandson, Peter Phillips. Both are smiling but only just.
