The queen, as imagined – from punk rock to mystery novels

A portrait by Heimans on display in the Westminster Abbey museum in London showing Queen Elizabeth II wearing her State dress and robe and standing on the Cosmati Pavement, where she was crowned in Westminster Abbey on 2 June 1953. Photo: Dean and Chapter of Westminster/AP

In the spring of 2012, portrait artist Ralph Heimans stood on the Cosmati pavement of Westminster Abbey and awaited the subject of his latest commission, Queen Elizabeth II. When she approached, he says, it was an extraordinary moment.

"She was wearing her Robe of State, with four footmen holding it, and as she came down the long corridor it was a very theatrical kind of entrance,” Heimans said soon after he had learned that the queen had died Sept 8 at age 96.