Queen Elizabeth images released

Each features the royal coat of arms and is decorated with the words “HM Queen Elizabeth II – Our Longest Reigning Monarch”.

She will overtake the record held by Queen Victoria – her great-great grandmother – who reigned for 23,226 days 16 hours and 23 minutes and died in 1901.

The new royal exhibition of formal photographs taken over the decades includes rarely seen images such as a black and white portrait by Dorothy Wilding painted in February 1952 soon after her accession to the throne, and Julian Calder’s striking image of her on Scottish moorland as Queen of Scots.

A side-on shot of the Queen’s head, it shows the composed young monarch wearing a diamond necklace and a dark-coloured, off-the-shoulder evening gown.

The Queen with her Highland Ponies, Windsor 2006.

The photographs will be in the inner quadrangle of the official residences – areas of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle that are not normally included in the visitor route.

Family activities will also be held at the castle on September 12 as part of the celebrations, there will be performances of 1950s music, crown-making art workshops and dressing up.

The church will also be open on September 10 and 11, where there will be displays and memorabilia marking the event, and on Sunday, September 13, there will be a service led by the Archdeacon of Dudley followed by the planting of a Queen Elizabeth rose.

The display, entitled ‘Long to Reign Over Us, celebrates Her Majesty through a selection of photographs from 1952 to the present day.