Queen gone to private bolthole to 'reflect on traumatic year', says expert

This year will be an emotional one for the Queen, who celebrates 70 years on the throne this month. Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations have been planned, but first she must navigate the loss of many beloved family members including her younger sister Princess Margaret. On February 9 2002, Margaret passed away following a stroke aged 71.

Queen Elizabeth II recently revealed that the Duchess of Cornwall becoming 'Queen Consort' is her "sincere wish" when Prince Charles becomes king. Camilla, 74, has been married to Charles, 73, for 17 years, and despite the pair's relationship getting off to a controversial start, their marriage has continued to go from strength to strength. Between them, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall share four children, and while Camilla's step-sons Prince William and Prince Harry are familiar faces, her own two children tend to keep a low-profile.

Gun salutes rang out in London and Edinburgh on Monday to mark the official start of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee year, as the 95-year-old monarch prepared for a busy season of public duties.

The Queen is planning to give Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, the late Queen Mother's crown, according to reports.The 95 year old monarch announced her official wish for Camilla to be known as Queen Consort when her son Prince Charles takes to the throne with her passing. In a heartfelt statement to her people to mark her platinum jubilee and 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II made sure her wishes were clear after months of speculation over the next generation.

Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee year.Britain's longest-serving monarch, Elizabeth became queen on the death of her father, King George VI, from lung cancer at age 56 on Feb. 6, 1952.The monarch doesn't celebrate the anniversary of the date she became queen, known as Ascension Day, as it is also the anniversary of her father’s death.In a statement released Saturday, the 95-year-old queen remembered the death of her father and recalled the seven decades of “extraordinary progress” that her reign has spanned.The queen made clear she intended to continue as head of state, renewing the pledge she made on her 21st birthday to devote her entire life to the service of the U.K.

Her Majesty the Queen marked her accession day on Sunday, beaming at the camera in a newly-released portrait.The Queen is celebrating an incredible 70 years on the throne - the first British monarch to reach this milestone - but there’s a deeper and more meaningful reason for her wide smile. Our Royal Family love a little symbolism as a mark of respect or remembrance on special occasions, and the Queen is no exception! Alongside nods to her late father King George VI and the Queen Mother, Her Majesty makes the sweetest tribute to Prince Philip with a vase of carefully chosen flowers. Here’s what those sweet snowdrops mean… Enduring love At the age of just 13, the then-Princess Elizabeth crossed paths with a dashing young naval student - Prince Philip.

Queen Elizabeth II used her Platinum Jubilee speech to proclaim her wish that Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, one day becomes Queen. She said: "When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.” A royal source revealed that Camilla has earned the position by the way she's handled her public life. "She’s never once tried to overshadow her husband, she’s always played a supportive role to the Prince of Wales.

If ever there was a person in history who has firmly established their trademark beauty look, the Queen is a pretty good winning contender. And while we’ll never know the exact details of her beauty regime, we do have access to one list that might give us some insight into the products that Her Majesty uses: the Royal Warrant Holders Association directory. Brands that have been awarded a Royal Warrant are recognised as supplying goods and services to the Royal households of both the Queen and Prince Charles (and formerly also Prince Philip).

The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to his “darling wife” the Duchess of Cornwall – the future Queen Consort – for her “steadfast support” as he congratulated his mother the Queen on her “remarkable” Platinum Jubilee.

Queen Elizabeth II offered her support Saturday to have the Duchess of Cornwall become Queen Camilla — using a special Platinum Jubilee message to make a significant decision in shaping the future of the British monarchy.

As the Queen approaches her Platinum Jubilee, her special celebrations will be marked by sadness. Her Majesty faces a challenging few months, remembering her late father King George VI and her beloved husband Prince Philip, who died in April last year. It’s also the 20th anniversary of the deaths of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother, who passed away in 2002 – the Queen’s Golden Jubilee year.

In photos to mark her Platinum Jubilee, The Queen has paid a touching tribute to her father, King George VI by wearing presents he gave her for her 18th birthday. As the celebrations get underway, the Monarch, 95, can be seen reminiscing over memorabilia and cards in the pictures. She is giving a subtle nod to her late father George as she can be seen wearing two brooches on her left side that were gifted to her by her father on her 18th birthday.

The Queen is marking the 70th anniversary of her reign on Sunday and, while this summer will be full of celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee, the official day will be tinged with sadness.The day that Princess Elizabeth became The Queen was the day that her father, King George VI, sadly passed away at the age of 56 while she was in Kenya during a tour of the Commonwealth. Royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK! that the day will be "a quiet day of reflection" for Her Majesty as she spends it without her husband, Prince Philip, for the first time.

The Queen is yet to meet Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s second child Lilibet, and now Meghan’s friend Omid Scobie has revealed that the couple won’t introduce the eight-month-old to her great-grandmother this year if “security concerns can’t be resolved”. Harry and his wife Meghan welcomed Lilibet, whose middle name is Diana, in June last year, but the couple have been living in California since 2020 after taking a step back from their roles as working royals.

Queen Elizabeth II’s empire shrank, then crumbled. While most people in Britain remain loyal to the queen and respect her years of service to the nation, attitudes about the monarchy have swung from unquestioning deference to scrutiny.

The Queen has lots to be cheerful about with her upcoming Platinum Jubilee celebrations – but there are crises looming, experts say. Last month the Queen’s third child, Prince Andrew, was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages as he faces a US civil action over sexual assault allegations – claims he has consistently denied.