…Researched and contributed by Femi Taiwo.
Late Queen Elizabeth II’s photograph, which features all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, except for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s children, has been released by Kensington Palace to mark the Queen’s 97th birthday.
The photo was taken by Princess Diana during a family trip to Balmoral in Aberdeenshire last summer.
The image shows the Queen sitting on a sofa wearing tartan while surrounded by Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as well as Mia, Lucas, and Lena Tindall, and Savannah and Isla Phillips. Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex are seen standing at the back of the photo.
Balmoral in Aberdeenshire was one of the Queen’s favourite places. She was happiest staying there, and she had eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren at the time of her death on September 8, 2022.
Meghan and Prince Harry resigned from their roles as senior royals in March 2020 and have had a tumultuous relationship with the royal family ever since.
The picture’s release comes ahead of King Charles’ coronation on May 6, which will only be attended by the Duke of Sussex while Meghan and their children remain in California.
The late Queen travelled to the Aberdeenshire estate each summer, with members of her family invited to spend time with her while she was there.
The Royal Family paid tribute to their matriarch on their social media by sharing a picture of Queen Elizabeth on duty with the message:
“Today we remember the incredible life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, on what would have been her 97th birthday.
” The Queen would have marked her 97th birthday on the day of the photograph’s release.
Balmoral holds years of royal memories, including family barbecues where Prince Philip cooked, and the Queen did the washing-up. Peter Phillips, the Queen’s eldest grandson, shared that “there was quite a gang of us growing up in that age, and it was a lot of fun. We caused quite a bit of mayhem and chaos.”