If you look in to any portrait there will be something in there somewhere that has a meaning to them.
Queen Elizabeth had loads of portraits painted of her but there aren't many left in the world as they got destroyed, if she didn't like the look of one she would have it destroyed too.
There are many different things that she had in her portraits, from a crown to a pelican.
The Red and White Tudor Rose
Elizabeth had these in her portraits to refer to the Tudor dynasty and how much it has brought people back together, as there was a civil war - 'War of the Roses'. Also, as Elizabeth liked to be known as the 'Virgin Queen', the Tudor rose was also a symbol of the Virgin Mary, she liked to use the rose in her portraits so her people know shes married to the Church and the Country. Like the Virgin Mary she wanted people to look up to her for doing right for the country.
The Pelican
A pelican is known for its motherly love, if there was a shortage of food mother pelicans were known to pluck their own breast to feed their young ones and save their lives. As the mother would die during this process it became a symbol of Jesus sacrificing himself on the cross and his 'body and blood' are a sacrament of communion, as does the pelican sacrificing its body and blood for its young. Elizabeth would do anything for her country and the people that lived in it, she loved every one and would do what ever she could to defend her county - as would a pelican for its young.
A Phoenix
A phoenix is a mythological creature, it was believed that they would live for 500 years and then be consumed by fire and re born again. Like the Queen of a country there can only ever be 1, making them very special. A phoenix was a symbol of resurrection, eternal life and endurance, just like Queen Elizabeth - wanting to rule for as long as she can, not dying, having strength and power and uniqueness. Even though she wanted to rule for a long time - 44 years was the longest and best reign for the country she made a sense of national stability for the country.
The Ermine
An ermine is a member of the weasel family, it was very well known and prized for its tail of pure white fur with a black tip. A legend was told that an ermine would rather die than soil on its beautiful pure white coat, this made ermines appear to be pure. They were in many of Queen Elizabeth's portraits, as she was 'pure' also but the ermine was also a status symbol as only royalty and high nobility people wore them.
A Sieve
A sieve was a symbol of purity and virginity which dated back to the Ancient Roman times, the Vestal Virgin - Tuccia, produced her virginity by carrying water, unspilt, in a sieve. As it was dated back to the Ancient Romans, Elizabeth liked to show her link with the Roman Empire by holding a sieve in her portraits and showing off her virginity too.
Pearls
Pearls were a sign of purity and virginity, it was said too that her mother loved wearing pearls. Elizabeth would wear them in her hair, on her clothes and in her jewellery. It was suggested that Dudley's last gift to her were pearls so they had a special meaning to her.
An Armillary Sphere
An armillary sphere was a skeletal globe which studied the movement of the planets, they were used in portraits in Elizabeth's time to represent wisdom and knowledge of the earth/world. Elizabeth used it in her portraits to show her power and it was a symbol of her good relations with her courtiers.
Crowns, Orbs and Sceptres
The Queen would wear her Crown and hold an orb or sceptre or have them in the portrait somewhere as they would signify her wealth and her monarchy in England.
As well as what was presented in her portraits, how she sat and where she was looking was very significant. Her father, Henry VIII, he had a posture about him which showed his magnificence and power. Elizabeth adopted his posture, sitting up right showing how powerful she is with her stance.
She would also stare in to the distance which could mean she was thinking about the future of the realm and what she could do to protect her country.
http://hoocher.com/Portraits_of_Elizabeth_I_of_England/Portraiture_of_Elizabeth_I_of_England.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England
http://www.rmg.co.uk/explore/sea-and-ships/in-depth/elizabeth/representing-the-queen/symbols-and-emblems-used-in-elizabeth-portraiture
http://www.elizabethfiles.com/the-armada-portrait/3931/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armillary_sphere#Renaissance
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