Royal Family Portraits Through the Years
From Queen Victoria to Princess Charlotte.
Royal portraiture is a longstanding tradition that's survived for centuries, but the medium has changed almost as much as the British monarchy has. Here, we highlight some standout images over eight generations of the British royal family, spanning from Queen Victoria's reign (when photography was first introduced), to Queen Elizabeth II's childhood, to Princess Charlotte's early years. From rigidly posed portraits to sweet candids, take a look at these official royal snaps.
1861
Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837-1901, was Queen Elizabeth II's great-great-grandmother. She was the first British sovereign to embrace photography as a means of making the royal brand accessible to the public, since the medium was introduced shortly after she ascended the throne. She and her husband, Prince Albert (pictured), became champions of the new art form.
1910
King Edward VII, who ruled from 1901 to 1910, and Queen Alexandra are Queen Elizabeth II's great grandparents. Here, the couple poses at the State Opening of Parliament in London in regalia. Like her in-laws, Queen Alexandra was also an avid fan of photography.
1913
King George V, Elizabeth II's grandfather, ruled Britain from 1910 (following the death of his father, Edward VII) until his passing in 1936. Here, he's pictured with his wife, Queen Mary, formerly Princess Mary of Teck, at the Robing room of the House of Lords.
1926
King George V and Queen Mary's son, George, Duke of York (the future King George VI) and his wife Elizabeth, Duchess of York, welcomed their first child and future Queen, Princess Elizabeth on April 21, 1926. In this photo, the royal couple looks dotingly at their daughter at her christening, a month after she was born.
1937
The immediate royal family poses for an official portrait celebrating the coronation of King George VI, Elizabeth II's father. The picture was taken by Hay Wrightson at Buckingham Palace.
Back row, from left to right: Mary, the Princess Royal, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Gloucester, Queen Mary, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Kent, the Duchess of Kent, and the Queen of Norway.
Front row: Princess Margaret and Princess Elizabeth (who would later become Queen Elizabeth II).
1942
Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth, and King George VI pose for a family portrait at Buckingham Palace. The royal daughters match in gray blazers, pleated skirts, and peach button-down shirts.
1944
A young Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret pose with Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The mother-daughter trio sport floral '40s-style dresses and matching pearls for the portrait.
1945
The royals pose for a family portrait outdoors. Queen Mary, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth, and Elizabeth the Queen Mother are seated in the front row, while the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Margaret, Princess Mary the Countess of Harewood, the Duchess of Kent, and Henry Lascelles, 6th Earl of Harewood stand behind them.
1947
A young Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Mountbatten, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, King George VI, and Princess Margaret pose in July 1947 in the royal apartments to celebrate Elizabeth and Philip's engagement. Philip reportedly proposed with a three-carat diamond ring that consisted of a center stone flanked by 10 smaller diamonds.
1947
Elizabeth and Philip share a sweet moment on their wedding day. The couple tied the knot at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. The future Queen's wedding gown included 10,000 seed pearls and a 15-foot train.
1948
Elizabeth poses with her Grandmother, Queen Mary, and her father, King George VI and her first child, Prince Charles, on his christening day.
1953
Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne the year after her father, King George VI, passed away. Here, she's pictured on her coronation day with Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, and Elizabeth the Queen Mother, dressed in full regalia, at Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.
1960
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth have a picnic with their children, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew, at Balmoral Castle, the royal family's Scottish holiday home. The estate is believed to be Her Majesty's favorite residence. It's where she and the family take their annual summer holidays.
1970
Prince Charles, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and Queen Elizabeth II pose for a family portrait at Sandringham House, Her Majesty's country home near Norfolk, England. The photo was taken ahead of their royal tour to Australia and New Zealand.
1971
The royals take great candids, too, like this photo taken the day after Christmas in 1971 at Windsor Castle.
Back row, left to right: the Earl of Snowdon, the Duchess of Kent and Lord Nicholas Windsor, the Duke of Kent, Prince Michael of Kent, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, and Angus Ogilvy.
Middle row, left to right: Princess Margaret, the Queen Mother, The Queen, the Earl of St. Andrews, Princess Anne, Marina Ogilvy, Princess Alexandra, and James Ogilvy.
Front row (left to right) Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley, Prince Edward, and Lady Helen Windsor.
1972
Princess Anne, Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, the Queen, and Prince Philip enjoy a summer vacation at Balmoral Castle in August 1972. This image is from a series of photographs taken to celebrate the Queen and Prince Philip's 25th wedding anniversary.
1977
The Queen gives an adoring smile as she poses with Princess Anne and her first grandchild, Peter Phillips, on the day of his christening at Balmoral.
1980
Queen Elizabeth II, her mother, and Princess Margaret pose for an official portrait in matching cobalt satin jackets. Nearly two decades later, in 2002, Margaret and the Queen Mother passed away less than a month apart from each other.
Elizabeth II and her sister had a close-knit relationship and "a love, friendship, and conspiracy that were impressive to behold," according to Vanity Fair. Margaret reportedly had a direct phone line at Kensington Palace to her older sister, which she'd often use to chat and gossip with her sibling.
1981
Lady Diana Spencer—later known as Diana, Princess of Wales—and Prince Charles pose outside Buckingham Palace to celebrate their engagement. The bride-to-be flaunts her ring, featuring an oval sapphire surrounded by blue diamonds.
1981
Charles and Diana wed on July 29, 1981, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. After the ceremony, the newlyweds posed for photos with their family members, including the Queen, Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, Diana's mother Frances Shand Kydd, and her father John Spencer.
Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
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