The Queen is named the most powerful British woman in the world in Forbes' annual list

The royal is joined by the likes of Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Angelina Jolie in the 2012 power rankings

Following the success of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June and her involvement in the London 2012 Olympic Games, The Queen's triumphant year continued yesterday as she jumped 20 places to be named the 26th most powerful woman in the world in Forbes' annual list.

The Queen, who is also commended for her history-making, peace-keeping trip to Northern Ireland in June where she shook hands with former IRA commander Martin McGuinness, is only one of two Brits who make the respected rankings' top 100, with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling also named on the list but coming in at number 78.

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The top 10 is, unsurprisingly, dominated by political leaders and business power players with Germany's Chancellor, Angela Merkel, named the most powerful woman in the world. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff are placed in the number two and three spots. Bill Gates' wife Melinda (4), who co-chairs the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama (7) and Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg (10) also make up the top 10.

The worlds of celebrity and fashion are well represented too, with pop stars Lady Gaga and Beyonce placed at numbers 14 and 32 respectively, actress Angelina Jolie in at 66, and Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, who both appeal to the huge latin music market, coming in at 38 and 40.

Designer Diane von Furstenberg is the highest placed fashion name in the 33 spot, thanks to her hugely successful fashion labels and her role as the President of the CFDA. Other notable fashion figures include Burberry's American CEO Angela Ahrendts (45), magazine editrix Anna Wintour (51), designer Miuccia Prada (67) and the world's richest model, Gisele (83).

Click on over to Forbes website to see the complete 100.

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