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

EMPRESS FRIEDRICH, GERMAN EMPRESS AND QUEEN OF PRUSSIA (1840-1901)

Princess Frederick of Prussia, later Empress Frederick III (1840-1901) and Prince Wilhelm, later Wilhelm II (1859-1941)

Oct 1859

Albumen print which is hand-coloured with watercolour | 6.6 x 4.5 cm (image) | RCIN 2914292

Hand-coloured photograph of Princess Victoria, Princess Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, later Empress Frederick III (1840-1901) with her first son, Prince Wilhelm, later Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany (1859-1941). The infant is seated on a chair wearing a white bonnet and robe. Princess Victoria crouches beside the child.

  • Creator(s)

    Empress Friedrich, German Empress and Queen of Prussia (1840-1901) (colourist)

    After William Bambridge (photographer)

    Subject(s)

    Empress Friedrich, German Empress and Queen of Prussia (1840-1901)
    Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany & King of Prussia (1859-1941)

  • 6.6 x 4.5 cm (image)

  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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