Queen Elizabeth II 334 by Andy Warhol is a vibrant screenprint from his Reigning Queens portfolio. In this artwork, Warhol presents Queen Elizabeth II against a brick red background, using blocks of lilac, green, and blue to frame her silhouette. The portrait blends fluid linework, strong contrasts, and a rich palette, giving the queen’s expression a calm yet luminous presence. Warhol emphasizes the tiara and jewelry, allowing the bright highlights to stand out against the saturated colors.
Origins of Queen Elizabeth II 334
Warhol completed the Reigning Queens series in 1985, two years before his death. Although it is one of his largest portfolios in terms of the number of prints, the edition size is small, which adds to its appeal for collectors. The series includes portraits of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, Queen Ntombi Twala of Swaziland, and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. Warhol later released a “Royal Edition” of the portfolio, in which he added diamond dust to enhance the elegance of the imagery.
Warhol’s Image Source and Techniques
For Queen Elizabeth II 334, Warhol relied on the official Jubilee photograph taken by Peter Grugeon in 1975 and released for the queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. Warhol used this same photograph across four prints, varying the colors, blocks, and overlays. He placed abstract rectangles behind the figure, recalling the collage-like energy of his Mick Jagger series. Moreover, he used silkscreening to emphasize jewelry, light, and texture, giving the portraits a sense of opulence. These choices underline the public symbolism of royal imagery, which appears on currency, postage stamps, and mass-produced state objects.
Context Within Warhol’s Broader Themes
Warhol frequently explored the worlds of consumerism and celebrity. His well-known Campbell’s Soup and Marilyn Monroe series made everyday objects and iconic faces feel simultaneously familiar and monumental. Yet he also focused on political and global figures, including Vladimir Lenin, Mao Zedong, and Jimmy Carter. Warhol gravitated toward powerful women as well. His portraits of Jacqueline Kennedy, Karen Kain, Greta Garbo, and the Ladies and Gentlemen series reveal an ongoing fascination with glamour, power, and public identity.
Queen Elizabeth II 334 in Warhol’s Larger Body of Work
Warhol intended Reigning Queens primarily for the UK and wrote in his diary about its reception. “Nobody here cares about royalty,” he remarked while worrying about an American showing. Despite his concern, Queen Elizabeth II 334 has become one of the most admired works in the portfolio. Specifically, it showcases Warhol’s precision in color-blocking and silkscreen detail. The Royal Collection purchased several of these prints in 2012 to mark the queen’s 60-year reign. Consequently, they are the only portraits of herself that Queen Elizabeth owned without posing for them, a detail that deepens the cultural resonance of the work.
Photo Credit: Andy holding print of Queen Elizabeth. Photo by Derek Husdon. Courtesy of Getty Images.
