Press

News-stand launch for commemorative Diamond Jubilee bookazine with rare archive material (posted 23 March 2012)

A souvenir edition “bookazine”, The Illustrated Diamond Jubilee containing rare images of Queen Elizabeth II, has been jointly published by Illustrated London News (ILN) and Haymarket Media Group and will hit news-stands on 30 March. The 148-page commemorative publication, in celebration of Queen Elizabeth’s 60 years on the throne, tells the eventful story of Her Majesty’s life from a unique perspective. It draws on highly pictorial archive material from The Illustrated London News, as well as sister titles in its archive, including The Tatler, The Sketch, The Sphere, The Bystander and The Graphic, providing a privileged glimpse into the past of the reigning monarch.

With a print run of 53,000, The Illustrated Diamond Jubilee will be sold through WHSmith, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Royal Collection shops, Balmoral Estate, Peter Jones, and at selected news-stands in key overseas markets including the United States. It will be distributed in British Airways First Class and Club Class cabins and lounges worldwide. It will also be available to purchase as an iPad app through Apple’s App Store.

The publishers worked in close collaboration with The Royal Warrant Holders Association. More than 50 companies granted Royal Warrants have advertised and expressed their messages of congratulations to Her Majesty in the “By Royal Appointment” section, including Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, House of Fraser, Peter Jones, Barbour, Champagne Lanson, Bernard Weatherill, Boots, Austin Reed, Corney & Barrow and Wedgwood.

The Illustrated Diamond Jubilee covers momentous events of The Queen’s extraordinary life. Royal expert and Daily Mail columnist Robert Hardman pays tribute to her 60-year reign in his introduction and reveals that Her Majesty is enjoying herself and her role more than ever in 2012. There is the full story of how she fell in love at first sight with Philip Mountbatten, now The Duke of Edinburgh, her close relationship with her sister Princess Margaret, how her wardrobe has evolved over the past half-a-century, and how she has juggled being a wife, mother, grandmother and Queen over the years.

Lisa Barnard, Chief Executive of ILN, said: “Some of the material selected has not appeared since it was first published and we have found some marvellous photographs which capture informal moments of family and personal life, from a family picnic to her absorbing passion for horses and her beloved corgis. These contrast splendidly with the pageantry and spectacle of the 1953 Coronation, the colourful royal tours and the magnificent jewels she has worn over the years. Our researchers have trawled the bound volumes and archive files to find hundreds of images of the Queen, from her first steps of babyhood, an idyllic childhood, her accession to the throne far earlier than she wished, and her rigorous globe-trotting schedule in the name of duty. It is right and fitting in the Diamond Jubilee year that we have published a gem.”

Since its inception in 1842 as the world’s first pictorial newspaper, The Illustrated London News and its sister titles took pride in reporting on court events, and coronations prompted each magazine to publish lavish commemorative editions filled with photographs, specially commissioned paintings and sketches, all with dazzling front covers.

Through Haymarket, the content will be available to third-party publishers for licensing and syndication. A gallery of pictures is also available for the public to buy as framed prints and merchandise at prints-online.com or to license through Mary Evans Picture Library.

The Illustrated Diamond Jubilee: A Celebration in Pictures of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years RRP £5.99

Contact information and more pictures available for publication:

Lisa Barnard, Chief Executive, Illustrated London News Limited
lisa.barnard@iln.co.uk
020 7426 1011
www.iln.co.uk

Tim Bulley, Publishing Director, Haymarket
tim.bulley@haymarket.com
020 8267 5078
www.haymarket.com