A collection of photographs from the royal archives that have never been seen before is about to be revealed by Buckingham Palace.
It was announced by the Royal Collection Trust that a new exhibition titled “Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography” would be opening on May 17 at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The show will be small and personal.
The exhibition will trace “the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day through more than 150 items from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives.” This will be accomplished through the presentation of antique prints, the majority of which will be on show for the very first time, according to a statement. In order to provide visitors with a glimpse into the creative process, the show includes archival letters as well as proofs that have not been seen before.
In 1964, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra, and the Duchess of Kent, who was then the Duchess of Kent, are seen cradling their newborn children in a photograph that has never been seen before. Antony Armstrong-Jones, the photographer husband of Princess Margaret, took the shot as a gesture of gratitude to the royal obstetrician Sir John Peel, who delivered all four infants within a span of two months. Queen Elizabeth flashed a grin to the camera as she held Prince Edward, the youngest of her four children, in her arms. Meanwhile, Princess Margaret posed with her daughter, Lady Sarah.
A collection of photographs from the royal archives that have never been seen before is about to be revealed by Buckingham Palace.
It was announced by the Royal Collection Trust that a new exhibition titled “Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography” would be opening on May 17 at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The show will be small and personal.
The exhibition will trace “the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day through more than 150 items from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives.” This will be accomplished through the presentation of antique prints, the majority of which will be on show for the very first time, according to a statement. In order to provide visitors with a glimpse into the creative process, the show includes archival letters as well as proofs that have not been seen before.
In 1964, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra, and the Duchess of Kent, who was then the Duchess of Kent, are seen cradling their newborn children in a photograph that has never been seen before. Antony Armstrong-Jones, the photographer husband of Princess Margaret, took the shot as a gesture of gratitude to the royal obstetrician Sir John Peel, who delivered all four infants within a span of two months. Queen Elizabeth flashed a grin to the camera as she held Prince Edward, the youngest of her four children, in her arms. Meanwhile, Princess Margaret posed with her daughter, Lady Sarah.
In addition to contributions from Rankin and John Swannell, Dame Joanna Lumley will provide narration for a guide that will accompany the exhibition show. Hugo Burnand, who has a long-standing friendship with King Charles and Queen Camilla and who took their formal coronation photographs in May 2023, was also a participant in the design of the guide.
There are also works by renowned photographers such as Dorothy Wilding, Annie Leibovitz, Polly Borland, and David Bailey that are included inside the show. Those who are interested in the royal family might keep an eye out for these works.
Beginning on May 17, the exhibition “Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography” will be on display at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
