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 WILLIAM EDWARD KILBURN (1818-91)

Prince Alfred, later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1900)

Oct 1848

Salted paper print | 9.7 x 7.0 cm (image) | RCIN 2900002

Photograph of Prince Alfred aged 4. The young Prince stands facing towards the camera and gazing to the right. He places his right hand on an upholstered stool with fringes and his left foot on a cushion. He wears Highland dress, including shoes with buckles and a sporran. Photograph taken at Windsor. 

Photograph from a daguerreotype by William Edward Kilburn.

  • Creator(s)

    After William Edward Kilburn (1818-91) (photographer)

    Attributed to Nicolaas Henneman (1813-98) (photographer)

    Subject(s)

    Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900)

  • annotation: Prince Alfred./ Windsor. Oct. 1848./ From a Daguerreotype by Kilburn. [beneath work]

  • 9.7 x 7.0 cm (image)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Social sciences
      • Ethnology
        • Costume & National dress
          • Costume-Great Britain
            • Costume-Scotland
              • Scottish Highland Dress
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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