Queen Elizabeth Celebrates Diamond Jubilee
PRINCE HARRY, HEIR, ENGLAND: When we were young, it was very easy to take our grandmother for granted. You know she was just a grandmother to us. And it's only really sort of being over the last sort of five, eight, ten years, now that she's really learnt to sort of understand and accept the huge deal that she is around the world, especially in the U.K.</s>ANDERSON: Well to most of us, she's the queen but to them, well she's just granny. Given the many roles she face in her everyday life. It is easy to forget that as well as being head of state in Britain and the Common Wealth, Elizabeth II, is also a wife, a mother as we heard there and an adored and respected grandmother. Well, over 60 years on the throne. Her supporters soon will say she's performed her duties with devotion, warmth and dignity. But away from the public eye, what's the queen actually like, well CNN's Mark Foster, spoke to some of her acquaintances to find out.</s>ELIZABETH II, QUEEN, ENGLAND: I declare before you all with my whole life, whether it being long or short, shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.</s>MARGRETHE II, QUEEN, DENMARK: I think to remember having, having listened to that speech and I remember very well exactly remember reading not so much -- not many years later. The way she dedicated her life to her country and that was an example that I very much felt that when I grow older that was what it was about. You dedicate your life to your country.</s>ROBERT HARDMAN, ROYAL BIOGRAPHER: But she's taken an institution that was frankly Edwardian if not Victoria and the way it operated. When she started and she's brought it right up to the present day to the extent that she's not only the most famous woman in the world, but one of the most respected people in the world. The monarchy are strong now as it's being I think many -- in any stage during her reign is secured for the future. And when you're running hereditary institution that's what you're in to do.</s>CONSTANTINE II, FORMER KING, GREECE: I think it's a major achievement and the queen, she came to one of my conferences of my schools. And I mentioned to her that when the English poet Keith gave advice to his younger brother, he said "Let your mind be a thought of her of all thoughts, and not a select few." And I think she's some blessed as a person who adopted, and you mention how many prime ministers she's had, how many presidents of the United States she's met, it's a vast experience. Laid the street and perfect symbol to the nation and I think that's why the jubilee will be a huge success. And the next generation with her son and then later on, her grandson will be perfect. But I would suggest that they will be extremely happy and supportive to the queen to her all endeavors. And anyway, Prince of Wales has done a huge amount of work for the young people of Britain and that's well documented. Especially the youth business trust, it's an amazing achievement.</s>MARK FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT(on camera): What will you be thinking as she celebrates the jubilee?</s>MARGRETHE II: Well I will think it's -- she's -- having an extraordinary reign and she's a -- now I will tell you what, I will absolutely refuse to de-mask my colleagues and relay relations.</s>FOSTER: Now absolutely do understand that but your thoughts as someone goes into their 60th year.</s>MARGRETHE II: Well she's a remarkable person. Quite certainly, I think people realize that very much. I should --</s>ANDERSON: Well the rest of us, normal people like you and me can only imagine what life behind royal palace walls might be like. But that is not something as wondering is it? I caught up with one British artist who spent the past decade using her rather cheeky imagination to get behind the royal scenes.</s>ANDERSON(voice-over): An image of the British queen on her knees with her coggi or is it?</s>ALISON JACKSON, PHOTOGRAPHER & FILMMAKER: I love this picture actually because I always think the queen probably really very fund to her coggi, she's surrounded -- I don't know how many but a lot. She takes them on her aeroplane and so on and so forth. So just thought it would be really nice to have a picture of her playing at home with her coggies.</s>ANDERSON: It's what Alison Jackson calls a mental image only.</s>JACKSON: Really great, your smile is really great.</s>ANDERSON: The notorious photographer and filmmaker satirizes the liberties through look-alikes. And the British royals are among her favorite subjects. What is it about the royals that has inspired you to do this sort of work?</s>JACKSON: Well I think they're such a fantastic family; the royals. Because they're sort of shadowed in mystique and mystery and I'm always dying to know how they actually really live their lives. You know they got this fantastic life with footmen and servants and carriages and castles, and I think everyone really dreams of something like that in their life. That really, what is it like? So I try and depict what's always going on for real in their lives.</s>ANDERSON: Who's your favorite?</s>JACKSON: Well I think the queen, actually. Because I think she's such some figure head, you know she works hard, she's 85, she's really fit. I just can't believe she keeps on going in the way she does.</s>ANDERSON: And in Jackson's mind, that includes doing the konger, at the after party, the Kateline and Wills wedding. (on camera): Where on earth do you find these look-alikes, and how difficult is it to find?</s>JACKSON: It's very difficult to find the look-alikes but it's -- I've got a spitting image replica, royal family now. They are all absolutely excellent. As you can see, the queen is just brilliant, the Kate and Wills look alike so, fantastic. And even Pepper Middleton is just got to be an exact replica, including her bottom.</s>ANDERSON (voice-over): These photographs have all being selected by Jackson for an exhibition, celebrating the queen's diamond jubilee. We can't show you the naughtier ones, which many believe go too far.</s>JACKSON: Oh yes, I mean people go woo, you know but there isn't -- it isn't really anything that I'm showing or making that isn't really existing in our minds anyway. So I'm just depicting what exist in our minds. And so all I can say is if people are offended and they're offended by their own mind. You'll never probably get an opportunity to find out what goes on for real now, will you?</s>ANDERSON: Now as the country gears up for the official diamond jubilee this weekend, CNN here will bring you special coverage of all the events taking place across the capital. We'll have the ceremonies and street parties and all sorts of tribute being paid to her majesty. Please join us for that. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD here on CNN. When we come back, we're in Poland, where a French luxury yacht builder is learning from Polish boat building fishing. We've got our eye on Poland this week as we look forward to Euro 2012 championships and that story coming up after this.