From the point of view of currency, the first requirement on the death of a monarch is a suitable photograph of the new king or queen. This image is the basis of new stamp and coin designs. Of course, the transition of monarchy is a complex period and preliminary work has to be done with existing photographs.

The first official sittings by Queen Elizabeth took place at Clarence House on 26 February 1952, almost three weeks after the death of her father, King George VI. The photographer was Dorothy Wilding, who was briefed beforehand by both Post Office and Royal Mint officials with their different requirements.

This first sitting produced three-quarter profile photographs of The Queen wearing a tiara. These were used by artists for initial stamp designs. However, from a heraldic point of view, it was felt that she should be wearing a coronet. A fresh photographic session took place on 15 April, where The Queen now wore the diamond diadem made for George IV in the 1820s, designed to be worn outside a Cap of State. This had also been worn by Queen Victoria on the Penny Black and all her subsequent stamps.

The new three-quarter photograph selected was approved by The Queen on 5 May, with one proviso: The Queen felt it showed the diadem too far back on her head. This was altered by retouching the photo. This also clarified the outline of the diadem for reproducing at stamp size.

All British definitive stamps bore this Wilding portrait from 1952 until 1967, when it was replaced by the sculptured head by Arnold Machin. The Wilding portrait was also incorporated into all commemorative stamps during this period, although the three-quarter format caused problems for some designers.

Illustrations

Wilding's portrait of the young Queen

Stamp designed by M Farrar Bell

Stamp designed by Edmund Dulac

Stamp designed by Mary Adshead