• Thrifty! Photo reveals how the queen keeps warm in chilly palace

    John Stillwell / Pool via Reuters

    The space heater is seen behind Queen Elizabeth as she greets the High Commissioner of Australia Mike Rann (L) and his wife Sasha at Buckingham Palace on Thursday.

    By Eun Kyung Kim, TODAY contributor

    Queen Elizabeth knows how to be thrifty when it comes to the Buckingham Palace thermostat.

    John Stillwell / Pool via Reuters

    A close-up of the queen's thrifty temperature solution.

    A newly released photograph shows how the royals keep costs down during the winter.

    The picture shows the queen receiving the Australian High Commissioner in the Palace’s ornate Audience room where, instead of a roaring fire, a red-hot, double-bar space heater sits in the fireplace.

    The UK's Telegraph offers that such a heater would cost £29.99 – or about $46. Buckingham Palace spans 830,000 square feet, and temperatures in London Thursday dipped to a low of 34 degrees. 

    The queen is known for her frugality, often noting her nation’s economic recession when she makes serious cuts in palace budgets. 

    More: 
    Princess Diana's gowns for sale 
    One has a ticket to ride: Royals use the London Tube 
    Queen of England's income frozen until 2015

     

  • An RV fit for a queen? Elizabeth II tries out motor home for size

    Carl Court / WPA Pool via Getty Images

    Not quite as big as Buckingham Palace: Queen Elizabeth II views the interior of a recreational vehicle during a visit to the Bailey caravan factory in Bristol, England as part of her Jubilee tour on November 22, 2012.

    Carl Court / Pool via AFP - Getty Images

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  • A historic handshake, a historic image in Northern Ireland's peace process

    Paul Faith / Pool via Reuters

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with Northern Ireland deputy first minister Martin McGuinness at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast on June 27, 2012.

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    The picture above may not look all that special, but it captures a historic moment in the Northern Ireland peace process.

    Since it was announced last week that Queen Elizabeth II would meet Martin McGuinness, formerly a senior commander in the IRA, there had been intense speculation about how the encounter would play out — and how it would be recorded.

    'Never thought I'd see this day': Reflecting on Queen's historic meeting with ex-IRA commander

    It was only on Wednesday morning that Buckingham Palace confirmed the meeting — or at least a part of it — would be filmed. Cameras were not present for the initial encounter between the Queen and McGuinness, who is now Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, but a small number of media representatives were allowed to witness their farewells. 

    Hands of history: Gestures of the Northern Ireland peace process

    Even then, the handshake was not permitted to be broadcast live. Rolling news channels in the U.K. were forced to fill the image vacuum with endlessly-looped footage of the Queen looking at an art exhibit, as their correspondents attempted to describe a scene they had not yet been able to see. Finally, after an interminable delay, a handful of still images and 23 seconds of video were released to the world.

    Paul Faith / Pool via AFP - Getty Images

    Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, second left, and the Duke of Edinburgh watch as the Queen shakes hands with Martin McGuinness.

    Peter Muhly / AFP - Getty Images

    Armed police block a road leading to the Lyric Theatre in Belfast during the Queen's visit.

     

  • Queen's Diamond Jubilee lights up London

    Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

    The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team fly in formation over Buckingham Palace as The Royal family stand on the balcony on June 5, in London, England. For only the second time in its history the UK celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of a monarch. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates the 60th anniversary of her ascension to the throne. Thousands of wellwishers from around the world have flocked to London to witness the spectacle of the weekend's celebrations.

    Andrew Winning / Reuters

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth smiles as she leaves St Paul's Cathedral with its Dean, David Ison and the Canon Pastor, Michael Colclough (right) following a thanksgiving service to mark her Diamond Jubilee in central London on June 5.

    Tal Cohen / EPA

    Metropolitan police officers encourage Royal supporters to cheer before Britain's Queen Elizabeth II Carriage Procession from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, on June 5. The British Royal Family's procession followed a national service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, a reception at Guildhall and a lunch at Westminster Hall. This is the final day of the Diamond Jubilee weekend celebrating Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne.

    Karel Prinsloo / EPA

    The crowd wait to see the Queen after the Carriage Procession from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, on June 5.

    Kevin Coombs / Reuters

    A man holding a girl waving a Union flag stands among other spectators near Parliament Square for a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth, in London on June 5.

    NBC News and msnbc.com staff -- Crowds chanting "God save the queen" and a fanfare of trumpets welcomed the British monarch on Tuesday as she arrived at a church service on the fourth day of celebrations marking her 60 years on the throne.

    But even though she was surrounded by family and greeted by thousands of her subjects, without her husband Prince Philip at her side Queen Elizabeth II cut a lonely figure on the last day of her jubilee celebrations.

    Read the full story: Queen cuts a lonely figure at church service.

    Tal Cohen / EPA

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles are seen in the State Landau carriage when they pass The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben during the Carriage Procession from Westminster Hall to Buckingham Palace in London, Britain, on June 5.

    Cathal McNaughton / Reuters

    Guards arrive at Buckingham Palace ahead of a horse-drawn carriage procession carrying Queen Elizabeth and the royal family in London on June 5. Cheering crowds thronged the streets of London on Tuesday for the grand finale to four days of festivities marking Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee attended by millions across Britain.

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Price Harry wave to the crowds from Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee carriage procession after the service of thanksgiving at St.Paul's Cathedral on the Mall on June 5, in London, England.

     

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    The crowd is escorted down The Mall during the Diamond Jubilee carriage procession after the service of thanksgiving at St.Paul's Cathedral on the Mall on June 5, in London, England.

    Slideshow: Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

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    Her Royal Highness celebrates 60 years on the throne.

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  • Brits celebrate Queen's Diamond Jubilee with street parties

    Pete Jeary / NBC News

    Michael Kelion hands out burgers at the Granard Ave. street party as the feasting is in full swing. Around 200 people sat down to share in a Jubilee lunch.

    Pete Jeary / NBC News

    Georgina Spry

    Georgina Spry, 35, had been up since early Saturday morning, decorating her house on Worfield Street. Cardboard cutouts of the Royal family had been put in the bedroom windows. "The Queen's wearing my wedding dress. It looks good on her," she said. "I love this - especially getting so much done before the baby wakes up."

    The Worfield Street jubilee party was sponsored by an English sparkling wine company - with catering provided by a local chef. "As I don't have to worry about cooking", she told me, "I can concentrate on getting the house fit for a queen."

    Queen off to the races as celebration begins.

    Andrew Cowie / AFP - Getty Images

    Residents of Battersea in south London decorate their homes with bunting, flags and cardboard cutouts of British royals as they hold a street party on June 2.

    Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

    People pose with a cutout of Britain's Queen Elizabeth during a street party to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee at Primrose Hill in London June 2.

    Pete Jeary / NBC News

    Her Majesty as she's rarely seen, in jelly.

    Andrew Cowie / AFP - Getty Images

    Two women pet dogs wearing crowns as residents of a street in Battersea hold a Jubilee street party in London, June 2.

     

  • Peter Macdiarmid / Getty Images

    Say cheese! A cardboard queen patiently poses for portraits

    A tourist has her photograph taken with a cardboard cut out of Queen Elizabeth II in The Mall on June 1, in London, England. With two days to go before the start of Diamond Jubilee celebrations final preparations are taking place in the capital.

    Related content:

    Slideshow - Fit for a queen: 60 years of style

    Video - From the archives: the queen's life

    Slideshow - Life of a queen

  • Flags, carriages and silly hats: Finishing touches for Queen's Diamond Jubilee

    Sean Dempsey/ Pool via Getty Images

    Carriage restorer David Evans cleans the 1902 State Landau carriage at the Royal Mews in Buckingham Palace, as the horses and carriages are prepared for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee , on May 28 , in London, England.

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    Union Flags fly along The Mall near Buckingham Palace in London, on May 29, ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    A woman poses for a photograph in front of a floral crown that has been installed in St James's Park in central London on May 29, to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. The crown took five weeks to construct, weighs five tonnes and has the blooms of 13,500 plants.

    Carl Court / AFP - Getty Images

    Guardsmen perform the Changing of the Guard in Horseguards in central London on May 29, ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee will take place June 2-5, and celebrations will include a festival of boats on the river Thames and the lighting of more than 2,000 beacons around the country during a four-day public holiday.

    Slideshow: Fit for a queen: 60 years of style

    Getty Images

    From unique prints to fabulous hats, the British monarch's fashion choices often show a sense of fun. Take a look through Queen Elizabeth II's signature looks over the years.

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     From Reuters:  Almost half of Britons believe Britain has changed for the worse during Queen Elizabeth's 60-year reign but most think that celebrations to mark her sixth decade on the throne will be good for business and Britain's character, according to a new poll.

     Huge crowds are expected to celebrate 86-year-old Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee next week, which is expected to be marked by a concert at Buckingham Palace, a procession through London and a 1,000-strong flotilla along the River Thames.

     An ITV News/ComRes poll found that 47 percent of those surveyed thought that Britain was not as good a place as before her reign, and just over half said they would not go to a jubilee street party or other celebration.

  • Every sand castle needs a sand Queen Elizabeth

    Matt Cardy / Getty Images

    Matt Cardy / Getty Images

    Artist Nicola Wood completes a sand sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II at the annual Weston-Super-Mare Sand Sculpture festival in Weston-Super-Mare, England. Now in its seventh year, the festival features sand sculptures from award-winning artists from across the globe.

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  • A portrait of the queen longer than 7 double decker buses

    Matt Dunham / AP

    A worker abseils during a unveiling after helping to hang a giant image from a building on the south bank of the River Thames, London showing Britain's Queen Elizabeth II waving on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Queen's 1977 Silver Jubilee, on May 25. The giant canvas, measuring 328 feet by 230 feet and weighing nearly two tons, was officially unveiled on Friday and will be displayed until the end of June, in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, marking the Queen's 60 year reign.

    Suzanne Plunkett / Reuters

    Abseilers secure a giant canvas along the River Thames of a photograph showing Britain's Royal Family during the 1977 Silver Jubilee, London on May 25. The photograph, shot by an unknown photographer shows (L-R) Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, Louis Mountbatten, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Mark Phillips and Princess Anne on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth will mark her Diamond Jubilee by travelling in a 1,000-boat regatta on the river on June 3.

    Slideshow: Life of a queen

    Chris Radburn / AFP - Getty Images

    After more than five decades on the throne, view images from the extraordinary life of Queen Elizabeth II.

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  • Queen Elizabeth gets the waxwork treatment

    Leon Neal / AFP - Getty Images

    Painter Lisa Burton poses for pictures with a new waxwork figure of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II at Madame Tussauds in London on May 14, 2012. The figure is dressed in a recreation of the white and silver lace dress covered in 53,000 Swarovski elements with blue silk sash adorned with The Queen's Garter Badge, topped off by a replica of the diamond and pearl George IV State Diadem.

    See the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in wax on PhotoBlog

    Slideshow: Life of a queen

    Chris Radburn / AFP - Getty Images

    As she marks her Diamond Jubilee, view images from the extraordinary life and long reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

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  • Queen sets out British government agenda in opulent pageant of pomp and politics

    Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

    Britain's Queen Elizabeth II arrives at Buckingham Palace in London after her address to Parliament at the official State Opening of Parliament ceremony at Westminster on May 9, 2012.

    The Associated Press reports — Queen Elizabeth II says Britain's government plans to finally reform the centuries-old House of Lords and introduce direct elections for its members.

    Attempts to overhaul the unelected 700-year-old upper chamber — which does not make laws but can amend legislation — have frustrated British leaders for decades, with peers reluctant to agree to changes.

    Announcing the government's new legislative program Wednesday in an opulent pageant of pomp and politics, the queen said planned laws would introduce a smaller, mainly upper elected chamber.

    Read the full text of the Queen's Speech.

    Dominic Lipinski / WPA Pool via Getty Images

    Cleaning staff prepare the Sovereign's Entrance at the Houses of Parliament, ahead of the arrival of Queen Elizabeth II.

    Leon Neal / Pool via AFP - Getty Images

    Queen Elizabeth II proceeds through the Royal Gallery in the Palace of Westminster.

    Leon Neal / Pool via AFP - Getty Images

    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, proceed through the Royal Gallery in the Palace of Westminster.

    Queen Elizabeth gave her annual speech to Britain's Parliament, setting out the country's agenda for the next year.  The queen said the first priority would be to reduce the deficit and restore economic stability through spending cuts.  ITN's Tom Bradby reports.

    Slideshow: Life of a queen

    Chris Radburn / AFP - Getty Images

    As she marks her Diamond Jubilee, view images from the extraordinary life and long reign of Queen Elizabeth II.

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  • Buckingham Palace is all lit up for the 2012 Olympics

    Andy Rain / EPA

    Andrew Winning / Reuters

    Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images

    Self-portraits by 200,000 children are projected April 19 onto Buckingham Palace to form portraits of Queen Elizabeth in central London.  The portraits were collected by the Prince's Foundation for Children and the Arts to celebrate the nation's children in the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  

     

     

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    Justin Tallis / AFP - Getty Images

    Andrew Winning / Reuters

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    Thousands of British children's faces illuminated Buckingham Palace on Thursday night to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. NBC's Ali Jones spoke to the participating children.

    Slideshow: When the Olympics is your neighbor

    Gideon Mendel / Corbis for msnbc.com

    A diverse community in East London will welcome the world to Britain for the 2012 Olympic Games. Meet residents and hear how they feel about having a huge, world stage in their backyard.

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