© Norman Parkinson, Princess Anne, 1971
The Royal Collection Trust has announced a new exhibition at The King’s Gallery in Edinburgh, running from 28 February to 7 September.
Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography will chart the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day, revealing the stories behind the creation of some of the most iconic images of the Royal Family.
Bringing together more than 90 photographic prints, proofs and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives, the exhibition – which follows a successful run in London – will also consider photography’s artistic and technological advances as it evolved into a recognised art form.
Alessandro Nasini, curator of Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography said, “The Royal Collection holds some of the most enduring photographs ever taken of the Royal Family, each one captured by the most celebrated portrait photographers of the past hundred years – from Cecil Beaton and Norman Parkinson to Annie Leibovitz and Rankin.
“Alongside these beautiful vintage prints, many of which are which are being shown in Scotland for the first time, we are excited to share archival correspondence, photographers’ handwritten annotations and unreleased proofs that lift the curtain on the process of commissioning, sitting for, and selecting royal portraits. We hope visitors will enjoy going behind the scenes to discover how these unforgettable royal images were made.”
Photographs taken to mark milestone birthdays of members of the Royal Family are among the star works in the exhibition, including images from the famed 1971 series taken by Norman Parkinson to mark Princess Anne’s 21st birthday. The ‘coming of age’ portraits reveal a sophisticated and stylish woman as she interacts with her surroundings of the gardens of Frogmore House or stands in front of a painted scene reminiscent of a Scottish landscape featuring a galloping white unicorn bearing her royal standard.
Another highlight will be a portrait of The King when Prince of Wales by Godfrey Argent, released to mark his 18th birthday in 1966. Taken in the library of Balmoral Castle, the photograph shows the young prince smiling while standing in a tweed jacket and a Balmoral tartan kilt.
Close relationships between royal sitters and photographers will unfold throughout the exhibition, seen most clearly through the lens of Lord Snowdon, born Antony Armstrong-Jones. One of the most sought-after photographers of the 1950s, Snowdon’s style attracted the attention of the Royal Family, and he became a family member when he married Princess Margaret in 1960. His portraits of the Princess, taken before and during their marriage, hint at their depths of trust and collaboration.
The bold and colourful later photographs in the exhibition will demonstrate the variety, power, and, at times, playfulness of royal portrait photography over the past four decades. These works range from Andy Warhol’s diamond-dust-sprinkled screenprint of Queen Elizabeth II to well-known photographs by David Bailey, Nick Knight, and Annie Leibovitz. The exhibition concludes with the official Coronation portraits Hugo Burnand took in May 2023.
Following a successful trial in 2024, The King’s Gallery will continue to offer £1 tickets to this exhibition for visitors receiving Universal Credit and other named benefits. Other concessionary rates are available, including discounted tickets for Young People, half-price entry for children (with under-fives free), and the option to convert standard tickets bought directly from Royal Collection Trust into a 1-Year Pass for unlimited re-entry for 12 months.
Click here for more information on the Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography exhibition.
