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)

Princess Louise, Princess Helena, Princess Beatrice, Prince Alfred, Princess Alice and Queen Victoria, Buckingham Palace

29 - 29 Feb 1860

Albumen print | 11.5 x 15.0 cm (image) | RCIN 2906822

Photograph of a group taken outside at Buckingham Palace. From left to right: Princess Louise, Princess Helena, Princess Beatrice, Prince Alfred wearing a Naval uniform, Princess Alice and Queen Victoria.

The photograph was taken the day after the return home of Prince Alfred, who was training for a career in the Royal Navy, 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, and much of his work was placed in the royal photograph albums.

  • Creator(s)

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

    Subject(s)

    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)
    Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg (1857-1944)
    Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-1901)
  • annotation: Pcf Helena, Pce Alfred- The Queen/ Pfs Beatrice/ Pcf Louise- & Pfc Alice-/ Buckingham Palace- Feb: 28- 1860/ Col: Hon: D. De Ros [beneath work]

  • 11.5 x 15.0 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 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