This website presents our knowledge and research on this important aspect of the Royal Collection. As of April 2026 it will not be regularly updated and new research on this topic will sit within the main website.

Portraiture

Prince Albert was an early adopter of portrait photography

DUDLEY CHARLES FITZGERALD, 24TH BARON DE ROS (1827-1907)

Group at Buckingham Palace (Prince Leopold, Princess Louise, Prince Alfred, Princess Alice and Princess Helena)

29 - 29 Feb 1860

Albumen print | 10.8 x 15.2 cm (image) | RCIN 2906821

Photograph taken outside at Buckingham Palace, showing, from left to right: Prince Leopold, Princess Louise, Prince Alfred wearing Naval uniform, Princess Alice and Princess Helena.

This photograph was taken the day after Prince Alfred returned home from training for a career in the Royal Navy. He had just passed 'a brilliant examination' and was now a midshipman. Colonel de Ros, at that time Equerry to the Prince Consort, was a keen photographer. Over 40 of his prints, showing the royal children and the Court circle, are preserved in albums of the late 1850s and early 1860s.

  • Creator(s)

    Dudley Charles Fitzgerald, 24th Baron de Ros (1827-1907) (photographer)

    Subject(s)

    Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1853-84)
    Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939)
    Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900)
    Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse & by Rhine (1843-78)
    Princess Helena (1846-1923)
  • annotation: Pce Leopold- Pcfs Louise, Pcfs Alice & Pcfs Helena-/ Pce Alfred- [beneath work]

  • 10.8 x 15.2 cm (image)

    28.4 x 23.0 cm (page dimensions)

    29.5 x 25.0 x 5.0 cm (album)

  • Group portrait at Buckingham Palace

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • People
      • Children
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Great Britain
          • England
            • Greater London [England]
              • London [Greater London]
                • City of Westminster [London]
                  • Buckingham Palace
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
        • albums
          • photograph albums