R.I.P Our Beloved Queen Elizabeth ... please leave your comments or memories here

Pink Biz said:
"Lightness of Being" (2004)​

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Photo by Canadian photographer Chris Levine
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The Uncharacteristically Serene Photograph Was Snapped Between Poses

While almost celestial in appearance, the photograph is also a decidedly human portrait. Here Queen Elizabeth II bears the badges of age, with a shock of white hair and wrinkles lining her face. Yet the image nevertheless exudes power and a sense of calm and serenity. The Queen sits against a blank gray backdrop that could be imagined as the state of her mind. 'Lightness of Being' is unique in that it captures a sense of calm around the famously energetic monarch.

“One thing all artists will tell you is that the Queen does not sit still. And you really cannot say, ‘Ma’am, will you please bloody well sit still,’” said one portraitist, John Wonnacott, who painted the royal family in 2000. Levine brought a tempering influence: “Increasingly my work and direction have been informed directly out of meditation. Stillness is a portal to the divine, and by taking my subjects towards stillness, it allows for a more soulful connection with the subject, and that light radiates in the work,” he has said of the image.

Levine is known for photographs that explore the outer limits of light’s relationship to photography, including holograms, and the staging for this shot was particularly bright. “My Queen sittings took place not long after I first found meditation. I was very conscious of Her Majesty’s breathing and timed the 3D camera pass with her breathing cycle to infuse a sense of calm into the image. Lightness of Being was captured when I asked Ma’am to rest between camera passes,” said Levine.

Ahead of the sitting, the royal staff called Levine to choose a few items for the queen to wear for the portrait. “Up until that point, I had assumed I’d be working with whatever Ma’am decides to wear on the day and I was ok with that, but instead I got to style Her Majesty and that included making a selection from the Crown Jewels,” Levine explained. Among Levine’s selections the George IV State Diadem tiara, also known as the Diamond Diadem, which Elizabeth II had worn during her coronation.

“I chose the diadem for its beautiful understated simplicity compared to some of the more ornate creations, and for its cross,” Levine noted. The crown is encoded with regal iconography, too. It was first commissioned by the lavish-living George IV in 1820 and has since been worn by queens and their consorts on official occasions. The diadem is decorated with some 1,333 diamonds weighing a total of 320 carats. An icon of the throne, the crown appears on stamps and currency and was often sported by Queen Victoria. Symbolically, the diadem boasts four bouquets of roses, thistles, and shamrocks—references to England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the queen’s dominion over those regions.

Queen Elizabeth was often depicted wearing pearls. In Levine’s portrait, her usual three strands are reduced to an elegant single strand. While a seemingly innocuous choice, the inclusion of pearls has deep symbolic import. English Queens have worn pearls since time immemorial. Pearls are traditional for queens going back 1,000 years—there has never been a queen who didn’t wear pearls.” For Queen Elizabeth II, pearls also held familial significance. Taking a cue from her namesake, the queen’s parents gave her a chain to which they added two pearls on every birthday. Upon her father’s coronation, the queen was given a full necklace in 1937.
 

Sad, this day that we all knew was coming has finally arrived. The Queen had great faith and is now with the love of her life, she deserves that well earned rest. Probably the most admired woman in the world, she was gracious, dignified, funny with a wealth of knowledge.

R.I.P Queen Elizabeth
 
I am absolutely and utterly devastated. RIP, Your Majesty. Thank you for your years of unmatched self-sacrifice, dedication and service. We will surely miss you more than words could ever express.

As Her Majesty wished...Long live The King and His Queen Consort, Camilla..
 
hollydolly said:
It's so sad to see how quickly her health depreciated in less than a year .. here she is 7 months after Philip died looking Hale and Healthy , in October 2021... with Charles

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Last photo of her.
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I was born in 1946 and she assumed her royal duties in 1952, so she's been reining my whole life. I'm sure she's having a happy reunion with all her loved ones, especially Philip (who probably greeted her :)), who have gone before. I'm also sure it's a very happy day for her. RIP, dear lady. She was a perfect example of dignity, strength, and sense of duty and responsibility.
 
Wow! This site is the first that I am hearing about this. She has been the Queen of England almost all my life. Last I heard was that the Boris Johnson was up in Scotland; quickly followed by the new Prime Minister. I am so sorry to hear this. The Brits don't need it this year as they have plenty of problems with the hot weather, the high price of fuel, hydro and groceries. I like to remember the UK in better times.

Too bad she didn't make 100 but as they say when it's your time to go, it's your time to go.
 
Although she was obviously not my queen, I was always fascinated by her. Along with all the pomp and majesty, she was always very human. I loved the fact that she sometimes disguised herself as a commoner and went out among the crowds of people,, where she was never recognized. And the fact that she did military service during WW2 as an automobile mechanic, and liked to drive her own car after that. I get the feeling that she had a great sense of humor.

She will be missed. She was one of a kind.
 
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