The Queen came face to face with a bronze bust of her youthful self, wearing the crown of state, when she unveiled a new sculpture with an Oxford connection, above.

The unveiling took place in front of more than 150 peers and staff from the House of Lords, who had gathered in the Royal Gallery for Tuesday night’s event.

The Queen posed for artist Oscar Nemon – who also created a series of sculptures of Sir Winston Churchill – in the early 1960s but it was only a few years ago that his family donated the plaster head he created to the Lords.

The sculptor died in 1985 and his relatives have since presented various pieces of his work to institutions.

Viscount Falkland, chairman of the House of Lords works of arts committee, described the artwork as “regal”.

He said: “The sitting was done for a sculpture at Christ Church, Oxford, in 1962.”