Official Golden Jubilee photographs: The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY TO THE QUEEN

A specially commissioned Golden Jubilee portfolio of photographs of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh is being released for first publication on Wednesday 6th February, to mark the 50th anniversary of The Queen's Accession.

Working around The Queen's diary commitments, a number of photographers from Britain and the Commonwealth were invited to take photographs of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh during October to December 2001.

The photographers include HRH The Duke of York, Bryan Adams (Canada), Polly Borland (Australia), Julian Calder, Anthony Crickmay, Fiona Hanson, Lichfield, Rankin, David Secombe and John Swannell.

Lord Snowdon is marking the Accession anniversary by releasing a selection of hitherto unpublished photographs of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, with their family, taken by him in the 1950's.

Ranging from The Queen at the 2001 State Opening of Parliament to her winter stay at Sandringham, the photographers have covered different aspects of Her Majesty's work.

The photographers used backgrounds of their own choice including, for the first time in official Royal photography of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, the use of digital techniques.

Official photographs

For the first time, official photographs (taken by John Swannell) of The Queen, alone and with The Duke of Edinburgh, will be available on the Internet for anyone to use non-commercially. (N.B. All media, publishing and commercial organisations wishing to use this image should contact Camera Press - see below.)

As from 10.00am on Wednesday 6th February, these official photographs can be downloaded from www.royal.gov.uk

Golden Jubilee Exhibition, Windsor Castle

The Golden Jubilee portfolio of photographs will form part of a special exhibition at Windsor Castle, which will open on Wednesday 6th February. This exhibition, featuring photographs of The Queen throughout her reign, will also include some photographs taken by the Golden Jubilee photographers which are unique to the Exhibition.