Cecil Beaton - Queen Elizabeth II

Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) - The Queen at Buckingham Palace (1953) 

Australia $2.45 Stamp Issued 2006

Held by the V&A Museum London

This photograph was taken at the time of the Annigoni portrait of the queen in 1956, by one of Britain's most famous photographes in the 20th century.  The image was used for the 2006 Queens Birthday stamp issue in 2006 to celebrate her 80th Birthday.  The queen is wearing the Order of the Garter.

Pietro Annigoni - Queen Elizabeth II (1956)

Pietro Annigoni (1910-1988) - Portrait Queen Elizabeth II (1956)

Australia 50c Stamp Issued 2006

Australia still continues to issue stamps to commemorate the Queen's Birthday each year, in addition to observing a long weekend to mark the occasion.  Strangely enough, this is done in June, even though it is not the Queens Birthday - any excuse for a public holiday!!


Annigoni's painting of the queen was depicting in the 2006 Queen's Birthday issue, marking the 50th Anniversary of the completion of this regal portrait.