PA The Queen and her five great-grandchildren and youngest two grandchildren

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She holds her youngest great-grandchild, 11-month-old Princess Charlotte, in her arms in the tradition of royal portraiture for the picture, taken by American celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz. The photo, one of three released by Buckingham Palace today to mark the monarch's milestone birthday, brings together the youngest members of the immediate Royal Family with the head of state in an intimate, touching image. Two-year-old Prince George was on his best behaviour for the photo. He was joined by Zara and Mike Tindall's two-year-old daughter Mia, who is seen proudly holding the Queen's famous black handbag, and Peter Phillips's daughters Savannah, five, and three-year-old Isla.

PA The Queen surrounded by her great-grandchildren

PA The Princess Royal and the monarch share a moment in the drawing room at Windsor Castle

The image is one of three taken by Leibovitz to celebrate the monarch's 90th birthday

Behind the Queen, who is known as Gan Gan to George and Charlotte, stands the Earl and Countess of Wessex's daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, 12, and next to her with his hands in his pockets is her eight-year-old brother James, Viscount Severn. The photograph was taken in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle on Easter Monday last month. Charlotte, who will be one on May 2, has a pink bow clip in her hair. She is dressed in a floral dress, pale pink tights and cardigan and appears to be holding a plastic toy horse, while perched on the lap of the Queen.

PA The Queen with Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Savannah Phillips

Queen Elizabeth II: 90 of her most candid snaps Sun, June 12, 2016 To help celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday we have collated 90 of her most candid pictures. Play slideshow Reuters•Camera Press 1 of 91 Celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday with her most candid images

The image is one of three taken by Leibovitz to celebrate the monarch's 90th birthday. In a display of Girl Power, the Queen is also pictured in an informal shot in the white drawing room at Windsor with her only daughter, Princess Anne. The affection between them is plain to see as Anne, in three layers - a polo neck, shirt and jumper - sits close to her mother on a sofa, her arm resting behind her mother. And, of course, the third photo captures the world's most famous dog lover with her four remaining pets, her corgis Willow and Holly and dorgis - a cross between a dachshund and a corgi - Vulcan and Candy. Surrounded by her beloved dogs, she has one arm in her pale blue coat pocket as she prepares to climb the steps at the rear of the East Terrace and East Garden at Windsor.

Pa Her Majesty with her iconic corgis and dorgies

Eyebrows were raised when it emerged that the Royal Household had chosen an American photographer to mark such a landmark occasion for a British monarch who is also head of a Commonwealth that is home to a third of the world's population. But aides have insisted that the quality of Leibovitz's work speaks for itself and justifies their decision not to choose a British or Commonwealth photographer. The last time Leibovitz, 66, photographed the Queen there was an almighty row after the BBC and production company RDF were accused of giving the misleading impression in a trailer that the monarch had stormed out of a photo shoot. In fact, the Queen had been captured complaining about Leibovitz going into the 2007 photo shoot ahead of her State vist to the US and the ensuing row led to the resignation of BBC 1 controller Peter Fincham.

Leibovitz had asked the Queen to remove her "crown" - actually a tiara - for a "less dressy" shot. The Queen, wearing a ceremonial robe, was seen complaining: "Less dressy? What do you think this is?" The trailer then cut to the Queen apparently walking off with an aide, declaring: "I'm not changing anything. I've had enough dressing like this, thank you very much." Leibovitz, who captured the Queen in a long dark cape, and also in tiara, evening dress and white fur stole, gazing towards an open window looking out over the Buckingham Palace garden, later described the monarch as "feisty".

PA Prince George steals the show in this celebratory family portrait