HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

As we celebrated Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee with a dedicated auction on 31 May, the extensive range of banknotes carrying her portrait throughout so many countries down the decades illustrated her unrivalled standing and influence.

The embodiment of the spirit of nationhood, The Queen’s grace and dignity shone through her succeeding portraits, creating the perfect image to adorn currency. Indeed, the length of her reign and her sovereign status in so many countries, with her portrait on their banknotes, meant that she is widely believed to be the most recognised face on the planet.

Such was the interest that our Banknote department went on to create a study of this historic phenomenon, titled A Journey Through The Ages, Queen Elizabeth II 6 February 1952 – Present, unaware at the time how poignant this would prove to be in just a few short months.

The Platinum Jubilee Auction included a vignette of the celebrated Annigoni portrait of Her Majesty from 1955, showing her poised, proud and imperial in her Garter robes, a woman still less than 30 years old but already the beating heart of the nation.

Her dedication to her subjects, strength of purpose and unshakeable faith have not only sustained her through the years, they have also provided the bulwark for our modern constitutional democracy.

We mourn Her Majesty’s passing and look back in grateful thanks. As she would have undoubtedly wished, we also look forward to the equal success of our new King, Charles III. God Save The King!

The following links are related to this article:

Queen Elizabeth II - A Journey Through The Ages