In 1965, Raymond Depardon embarked on two royal state visits with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip: Ethiopia and West Germany. Visiting West Germany and West Berlin for the first time, their ten-day visit in May 1965 marked the first royal trip to German territory for more than 50 years. Depardon, who was at the time, a young photographer of 23, recalls the moment that he took this image: “I must have taken this picture the moment that she was getting back into her car after a reception in a town hall in one of the big German cities, Frankfurt or Munich, I think. Standing by her car, she waved to the crowds and the people behind me cheered and applauded, which made her smile”.