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The Queen of Music: How Queen Elizabeth II championed classical music
Even before her record-breaking began in 1952, Queen Elizabeth II was encouraging musicians from all walks of life. To help celebrate Her Majesty's 90th, here's a stunning photographic review of her many musical connections.
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1. 1930: A gift from Sir Edward Elgar
The Queen was inspiring classical music even when she was a small child. In 1930, Elgar dedicated one of his final compositions to Princess Elizabeth, her newborn sister Margaret and their mother, then Duchess of York. Elgar - who was Master of the King's Musick at the time - used tunes he had written down during his youth to create 'Nursery Suite'. Photo: PA
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2. 1938: Youth and music at the Royal Albert Hall
Boys and girls in a choir of a thousand voices sang before Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and their mother the Queen, at the Royal Albert Hall on the occasion of the National Festival of the School's Music Festivals of England, 6 May 1938. Photo: AP
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3. 1944: Honouring Sir Henry Wood
The Queen Elizabeth with Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret joined thousands of music lovers at the Royal Albert Hall on 25 March 1944, to honour Sir Henry Wood on his 75th Birthday and mark the 50th anniversary of his Proms concerts. Photo: AP
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4. 1946: An honorary degree in music
On 10 July 1946, Princess Elizabeth was presented with a Honorary Bachelor of Music degree from the University of London. Photo: PA
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5. 1946: Gilbert and Sullivan at the Guildhall
On 28 November 1946, Princess Elizabeth and her sister, Princess Margaret Rose attended a performance of 'Iolanthe' by Gilbert and Sullivan at the Guildhall School of Music. Photo: PA
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6. 1947: All must have prizes
Princess Elizabeth attended a concert and distribution of prizes at the Royal College of Music in Kensington, on 16 November 1947. Photo: PA.
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7. 1951: Opening of the Royal Festival Hall
Princess Elizabeth and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, joined the Royal Family at a concert of British music on 3 May 1951, to mark the opening of the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. Pictured (from left): Princess Elizabeth, Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth, King George VI and Princess Margaret. Photo: PA
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8. 1952: St. Cecilia's Day concert
The new Queen Elizabeth II, wearing an ermine coat over her lilac tulle evening dress arrives at London's Royal Festival Hall on 28 November 1952 to attend the St. Cecilia's Day concert . St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and of sacred music and the performance was in aid of the Musician's Benevolent Fund. Photo: PA
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9. 1955: Benefit with Bliss
On 23 November, the Queen attended the Musicians Benefit Concert at the Royal Festival Hall with Master of the Queen's Music, Sir Arthur Bliss. She was presented with a bouquet by the year's winner of the Queen's prize for the best woman singer, Ava June. Photo: PA.
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10. 1958: Fundraising for the Halle
The Queen signed the Visitors Book at the Royal Festival Hall at a concert given on 26 November 1958 by the Halle Orchestra, in aid of musicians charities. Photo: PA
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11. 1965: State visit to Germany
The Queen and German prime minister Kiesinger listen to a performance at the Schiller National Museum in Marbach, during the Queen's state visit to the federal state of Baden-Wurttemberg on 24 May 1965. Photo: PA
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12. 1967: At Aldeburgh with Britten
On 2 June 1967, the Queen opened the new Snape Maltings Concert Hall, at the beginning of the 20th Aldeburgh Festival. On her right is the composer and founder of the Festival, Benjamin Britten. Photo: Getty
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13. 1970: Return to Snape
After being damaged by fire, the Snape Maltings Concert Hall re-opened on 5 June 1970. The Queen is pictured with the tenor Peter Pears (left) and Benjamin Britten (right). Photo: Getty.
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14. 1973: Presenting the Queen Mother with a Music doctorate
On 5 December 1973, the Queen presented her mother with the honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the Royal College of Music. Photo: PA
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15. 1979: Greeting a great centenarian
The philanthropist, businessman, and major supporter of music and young musicians, Sir Robert Mayer is congratulated by Queen Elizabeth II on the occasion of his 100th birthday. She attended a concert in his honour at London's Royal Festival Hall. Photo: PA
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16. 1986: With Aled Jones and friends
On 6 May, The Queen attended an LSO gala concert conducted by Leonard Bernstein featuring three of his most important works: the Chichester Psalms - sung by 15-year old Aled Jones; the Serenade for Violin and Orchestra - played by Gidon Kremer; and the Age of Anxiety - featuring pianist Krystian Zimerman. They are all pictured with music director John Mauceri.
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17. 1996: Thumbs up from a Beatle
Paul McCartney gives a thumbs up to music students after they played for The Queen during her tour of The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts on 7 June 1996. The Institute is the brain-child of the former Beatle who showed the Queen around the centre before she officially opened it. Photo: PA
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18. 1999: A happy birthday in Seoul
The Queen, on her 73rd birthday, and the Duke Of Edinburgh met Lesley Garrett on stage, after the soprano led the hall in singing 'Happy Birthday' to the Queen at the close of a special concert held in her honour in Seoul, South Korea. Photo: PA
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19. 2000: At La Scala, Milan
During their state visit to Italy, the Queen and Prince Philip sat in the box at La Scala, Milan, to see a performance of 'In The South' by Elgar. Riccardo Muti conducted the La Scala Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: PA
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20. 2002: Classics at the Palace
On 1 June 2002, to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, the Queen was joined by artists on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the first public concert ever staged there. Pictured are Mtsislav Rostropovich, Kiri te Kanawa, Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna. Photo: PA
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21. 2005: The Queen's Medal for Music
In 2005, the Queen's Medal for Music was inaugurated. The nominating process for the recipient of the medal is overseen by a committee under the chairmanship of the Master of The Queen's Music. The 75mm medal was designed by Bethan Williams and is cast in silver. Photo: PA
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22. 2005: A medal for Sir Charles Mackerras...
The Queen presented the inaugural Queen's Medal For Music to conductor Sir Charles Mackerras at Buckingham Palace on 22 November 2005. Also pictured is the then Master of the Queen's Music Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. Photo: PA
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23. 2006: …and another for Bryn
In 2006, the Queen's Medal for Music went to Welsh operatic bass-baritone Bryn Terfel during a special concert to celebrate the Queen's 80th Birthday earlier during the year. Photo: PA
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24. 2007: Reopening the Royal Festival Hall
On 9 September 2007, the Queen met a gamelan music group during the re-opening ceremony of the Royal Festival Hall in London, following a two-year refurbishment. Photo: PA
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25. 2007: The Queen hears a Stradivari
As part of a visit to the Royal Academy of Music on 13 December 2007, the Queen heard student Giovanni Guzzo play a £3.5 million Stradivari violin. Photo: PA
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26. 2009: Praising Sir Colin Davis
On 8 December 2009, the Queen presented the Queen's Medal for Music to conductor Sir Colin Davis at Mansion House in London. Photo: PA
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27. 2011: Award for Emma Kirkby
On 2 June 2011 at Buckingham Palace, the Queen presented the Queen's Medal For Music to soprano Dame Emma Kirkby watched by the Master of The Queen's Music, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
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28. 2014: A medal for Sir Thomas Allen
Queen Elizabeth II presents the baritone Sir Thomas Allen with The Queen's Medal for Music at Buckingham Palace, 19 March 2014. Photo: PA
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29. 2014: The first female Master of the Queen's Music
The Queen welcomes the new Master of the Queen's Music, Judith Weir, along with Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, her predecessor, at Buckingham Palace on 22 July. Ms Weir, the first woman to hold the post, said she hoped to encourage everyone involved in music. Photo: Getty
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30. 2016: Queen Elizabeth II watches the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
Her Majesty sits in on an orchestral rehearsal in East London as the National Youth Orchestra and Lister Community School Orchestra combine as part of the NYO Inspire.
