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.

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Portraiture

Prince Albert was an early adopter of portrait photography

DR ERNST BECKER (1826-88)

Group portrait at Osborne

c.1880 copy of an original of Aug 1853

Carbon print | 10.2 x 13.1 cm (image) | RCIN 2900003

Photograph of a group portrait of, from left to right, Victoria, Princess Royal, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, Princess Alice and Prince Alfred. Photograph taken at Osborne, Isle of Wight. 

  • Creator(s)

    Dr Ernst Becker (1826-88) (photographer)

    Subject(s)

    King Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom (1841-1910)
    Empress Friedrich, German Empress and Queen of Prussia (1840-1901)
    Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse & by Rhine (1843-78)
    Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900)

  • annotation: The Princess Royal, Prince of Wales, Princess Alice/ Prince Alfred./ Osborne. August 1853,/ By Mr. Becker. [beneath work]

  • 10.2 x 13.1 cm (image)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Great Britain
          • England
            • Isle of Wight [England]
              • Osborne Estate [Isle of Wight]
                • Osborne House
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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