A new exhibition featuring previously unseen photographs of Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the British Royal Family will open on May 17, 2024, at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. Titled "Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography," the exhibition showcases over 150 vintage prints from the Royal Collection and Royal Archives, highlighting the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day.
Among the notable displays is a photograph of Queen Elizabeth II holding Prince Edward as a newborn, as well as previously unreleased wartime images. Other significant pieces include the Queen Mother’s personal copy of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation portrait, and the earliest surviving color photographic print of a royal, taken by Madame Yevonde in 1935.
Intimate family moments are also featured, such as a photograph by Lord Snowdon of four royal mothers—Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra, and the Duchess of Kent—holding their newborns in 1964. This image, accompanied by a letter from Princess Margaret to Elizabeth II, will be displayed alongside a variety of other historically important portraits and personal mementos.
The exhibition, curated by Alessandro Nasini, will run until October 6, 2024. It offers a multimedia guide narrated by Dame Joanna Lumley and features contributions from photographers like Hugo Burnand, Rankin, and John Swannell.