Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth Official Annie Leibovitz Portrait Photo Released

Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth Official Annie Leibovitz Portrait Photo Released

Prince Philip, the man who has always stood beside his wife, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s side for the last 68 years, will turn 95 on Friday, June 10, his birthday. To mark this milestone, the royal family has released yet another portrait; this one featuring the royal couple.

It’s been an exciting and fantastic year for royal watchers so far. They’ve been treated to several portraits of Queen Elizabeth and her family. The first one released stars the Queen with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. There is one with her corgis and another with the Prince of Wales and Prince William.

This latest portrait with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip was taken in March by renowned photographer, Annie Leibovitz at the private apartments at Windsor Castle the Monday after Easter. It was held back until now because the family wanted to create a number of pictures during the shoot and release them separately.

A palace source told PEOPLE: “It was simply nice to have this one for the birthday weekend. There was a lovely, relaxed family atmosphere that day.”

The image showcases the closeness between the royal couple, something observers saw firsthand this past Tuesday while the two were on an outing. Student Gemma Williams remarked to PEOPLE after seeing them: “She was very sweet. They were really relaxed and friendly and happy. They seemed to enjoy themselves.”

This appears to be the monarch’s mood lately, recalls Robert Hardman when he spoke to PEOPLE: “She’s a lot more smiley.” He no doubt has firsthand knowledge of the Queen’s mood since he wrote the recent documentary, Our Queen at 90: “It’s no doubt partly because the whole family and the institution is strong and contented, but a lot of it is down to him, (Prince Philip).”

Hardman isn’t the only one to notice the royal couple’s strong partnership. Biographer Gyles Brandreth wrote in the Radio Times: “The Queen wears the crown, but her husband wears the trousers. He is the power behind the throne: steadfast, never-failingly supportive.”

This weekend is one of the busiest of the year on the royal calendar. The Queen and her whole family will be out more to celebrate her birthday in a series of events beginning on Friday where they will be the center of attention. To commemorate her 90th birthday, a service will be held at St. Pauls.

Saturday will see Prince Philip’s birthday parade take place. This event of pageantry is known as Trooping the Color. Finally, on Sunday, a grand lunch will be held in the magnificent Mall. This is the Patron’s Lunch where 10,000 people will be served a grand picnic lunch designed with ingredients grown and raised in the United Kingdom.