A HISTORIC photograph of the Queen surrounded by her five great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren has been released to mark the monarch's 90th birthday today.
Captured by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, the sovereign - in the tradition of royal portraiture - holds her youngest great-grandchild Princess Charlotte in her arms.
Also appearing in the touching image is two-year-old Prince George, as well as Zara Phillips's two-year-old daughter Mia Tindall, who is proudly holding the Queen's famous black handbag, and Peter Phillips's daughters Savannah, five, and three-year-old Isla.
The Queen, who is known as Gan Gan to George and Charlotte, is also joined by the two youngest of her eight grandchildren - the Earl and Countess of Wessex's children - James, Viscount Severn, eight, who has his hands in his pockets, and Lady Louise Windsor.
Lady Louise, who was one of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's bridesmaids, is now 12 and towers above her younger relatives.
The photograph was taken in the Green Drawing Room, part of the Windsor Castle's semi-State apartments just after Easter.
Charlotte, 11 months, has a pink bow clip in her hair. She is dressed in a floral dress, pale pink tights and cardigan and appears to be holding a plastic toy horse, while perched on the lap of the Queen.
The image is one of three taken by Leibovitz to celebrate the head of state's 90th birthday.
The Queen is also pictured in an informal shot in the white drawing room at Windsor with her only daughter the Princess Royal.
Anne, in a polo neck, shirt and jumper, sits close to her mother on a sofa, her arm resting behind the royal matriarch.
The third picture captures the Queen walking in the private grounds of Windsor Castle.
The Queen is seen on steps at the rear of the East Terrace and East Garden with her four dogs, her corgis Willow and Holly and dorgis Vulcan and Candy.
A relaxed-looking monarch has one had in her pale blue coat pocket as she prepares to ascend, while the dogs wait at various points on the stone steps.
Main Picture: Queen Elizabeth II with her five great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren in the Green Drawing Room, part of Windsor Castle's semi-State apartments. The children are: James, Viscount Severn (left), 8, and Lady Louise (second left), 12, the children of The Earl and Countess of Wessex; Mia Tindall (holding The Queen's handbag), the two year-old-daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall; Savannah (third right), 5, and Isla Phillips (right), 3, daughters of The Queen's eldest grandson Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn; Prince George (second right), 2, and in The Queen's arms and in the tradition of Royal portraiture, the youngest great-grandchild, Princess Charlotte (11 months), children of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
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