Queen Elizabeth II is a lover of Leica cameras. I have two sets of "Her Majesty The Queen Sixtieth Birthday" stamps set, 17p and 34p, issued in 1986 to celebrate the monarch's 60th birthday. there are two 17p stamps, each with three portraits, a total of six portraits, from her 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, up to 60th birthday. The 50th birthday picture shows the Queen smiling, holding her Leica M3 with a Leica meter. The Queen also uses a Leica M6.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), January 03, 1999

Answers

Speaking of famous Leicaphiles, didn't Hitler use one too? I seem to remember some war photos showing him with what looked very much like an early Leica around his neck. I know they were issued to the German Air Force. Amazing the company they keep, isn't it!

-- Al (al_king@inset.com), January 15, 1999.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 21, 2001.

Rather a nice picture of the quenn holding a Leica M6 in its leather carry case in todays Daily Express (25th May 2002) The article is by one of the Expresses own photographers who ppints out her engraved E II R monogram on the top plate.

I wonder what she does with her old cameras. They would be the ultimate collecor leica!

-- Gordon Hudson (gordon@hudson.nu), May 25, 2002.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 26, 2002.

Afaik, the Queen owns Leica M3, M6, Leicaflex SL and a Minox A.

The Minox A was a present from Governer of Gibralta Loard Mayor when QER II visited Gibralta in 1954.

In May 1965, Prime Minister of Hesse Georg August presented a gold Minox B to QER II during her state visit to Germany

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 26, 2002.

Note: the Gold Minox B was for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh with PP inscription on the back of camera.

-- martin tai (martin.tai@capcanada.com), May 26, 2002.