Her Majesty cuddles up to her corgis at Windsor Castle in intimate photo shot by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair
The Queen has landed a starring role in the latest issue of Vanity Fair - by appearing as its cover girl for the second time. Her Majesty appears on the front of the magazine's summer edition which hits UK newsstands on Friday, in a colourful image shot by acclaimed fashion photographer Annie Leibovitz. In the relaxed portrait, the monarch sits by a rose bush in the grounds of Windsor Castle surrounded by her four beloved dogs Willow, Vulcan, Candy and Holly. It is just one of a series of photographs that was shot by contributing photographer Leibovitz to mark the Queen's 90th birthday in April. Another, released last month, sees her walking the dogs in Windsor's gardens, while others see her posing with family including her great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The photographer told Vanity Fair: 'The most moving, important thing about this shoot is that these were all her ideas.' 'She wanted to be photographed with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh; her daughter, Anne, the Princess Royal; and her corgis.' She added: 'I was told how relaxed she was at Windsor, and it was really true. You get the sense of how at peace she was with herself, and very much enthralled with her family.' Paying tribute to Britain's longest-serving monarch in an accompanying essay, writer William Shawcross said: 'These images of the Queen and her family and corgis and dorgis (a cross between corgi and dachshund) are endearing. 'And Windsor Castle, remember, is where she and her sister, Princess Margaret, sheltered from German bombers during the war. 'Now the beloved castle is an oasis of peace in her still unbelievably busy official life.' It is not the first time Her Majesty has starred the cover of the iconic magazine, after she graced its pages exactly nine years ago in its June 2007 - shot again by Leibovitz. The publication has also featured Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge on its August 2014 cover, as well as Princess Diana in 1985 and 1997 - just two months before her death.Source: Mail Online
