Queen Elizabeth II marks Sapphire Jubilee

Queen Elizabeth II, the worlds longest reigning sovereign, on Monday became the first British monarch to reach her Sapphire Jubilee, with 65 years on the throne.

The 90-year-old monarch is marking the landmark as a day of private contemplation at her Sandringham estate in Norfolk as it also coincides with the day her father, George V, died.

To mark the occasion, Buckingham Palace have re-released a photograph of the Queen, wearing distinctive sapphire jewellery.

The picture was taken by celebrated photographer David Bailey in 2014 for the GREAT campaign, a publicity campaign to promote Britain around the world.

In the photograph, The Queen is wearing a suite of sapphire jewellery given to her by King George VI as a wedding present in 1947. At the time of the commission, Bailey said he had "always been a huge fan of the Queen". "She has very kind eyes with a mischievous glint."