Poignant portrait of our sapphire Queen by David Bailey: Her Majesty sparkles in jewellery given to her as wedding gift by her father as she becomes the first monarch to reign for 65 years

To mark her latest milestone, a poignant photograph of her wearing a suite of sapphire jewellery given to her by her father King George VI as a wedding gift in 1947 has been issued. Sapphire is the 65th anniversary gemstone and the King's gift to his eldest daughter, then Princess Elizabeth, featured a glittering necklace, dating from 1850 and made of 16 large oblong sapphires surrounded by diamonds, with a pair of matching sapphire and diamond drop earrings. The Queen has added a sapphire and diamond tiara - made from a necklace that originally belonged to Princess Louise of Belgium - and a bracelet in 1963 to the collection to compliment the original sentimental pieces. She had the necklace shortened and the largest stone made into a pendant.