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

AFTER DR ERNST BECKER (1826-88)

'Macdonald (Jager) and the Prince's Poney [sic]'

1889 copy after an original of 1 Oct 1853

Carbon print | 13.5 x 10.0 cm (image) | RCIN 2906503

Photograph of John MacDonald (d.1860), a jager, standing, his back to the viewer. MacDonald wears highland dress, including a cap. He holds Prince Albert's pony  by the reins. The pony stands in left side profile. Photograph taken at Balmoral.

  • Creator(s)

    After Dr Ernst Becker (1826-88) (photographer)

    Gustav William Henry Mullins (1854-1921) (photographer)

    Subject(s)

    John MacDonald (d. 1860)

  • annotation: Reproduced & Printed in Carbon by Mullins 1889 [mount lower left]

  • 13.5 x 10.0 cm (image)

    28.2 x 22.9 cm (page dimensions)

  • John MacDonald (Jäger) and the Prince's Pony, Balmoral, Oct 1853 [Photographic Portraits. Vol 1/59 (1853-1857)]

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Places
      • Europe
        • Great Britain
          • Scotland
            • Aberdeenshire [Scotland]
              • Balmoral Estate [Aberdeenshire]
    • Social sciences
      • Ethnology
        • Costume & National dress
          • Costume-Great Britain
            • Costume-Scotland
              • Scottish Highland Dress
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Agriculture and related techniques
        • Animal husbandry
          • Horses
            • Ponies
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
        • albums
          • photograph albums
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