Birthday wishes are in order for The Queen, who turns 78 today (Thursday 17 July), and Buckingham Palace marked the occasion with the release of two brand-new portraits. The photographs were shot in the garden of Queen Camilla’s private home, Ray Mill House, in Wiltshire.

In the photographs, The Queen wears one of her favourite shirt dresses in a deep shade of turquoise, printed with tropical parrots. Queen Camilla has been pictured wearing the dress on public outings previously, including during a four-day trip to Kenya in 2023.

The new images were photographed earlier this month by Chris Jackson and were shared to the official Royal Family social media accounts. The Palace thanked the public for all ‘the wonderful well wishes on Her Majesty’s 78th birthday today!’ The photoshoot also included a special portrait with Her Majesty’s rescue pup, Moley. Moley was adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, of which The Queen is patron.

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Earlier this week, Her Majesty paid a special visit to the charity for the opening of a special ‘dog garden’ designed by Monty Don for Chelsea Flower Show. The Queen said it was ‘a fantastic afternoon’ and added that she and pup Moley were ‘so grateful for all’ the work the charity does.

Due to the heat, she hadn’t been able to bring her own Battersea rescue along, adding that ‘whilst Moley was keeping cool at home, she wishes she could have been reunited with some of her old friends’ during the Battersea visit.