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

ROGER FENTON (1819-69)

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and Prince Albert (1819-61)

11 - 11 May 1854

Hand coloured (watercolour) albumen print | 20.3 x 14.2 cm (image) | RCIN 2914323

Hand painted photograph showing Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and Prince Albert (1819-61) after a drawing room, wearing formal court dress.

A 'Drawing Room' was a formal court function at which ladies were 'presented at Court' (ie debutantes), as opposed to levees, when gentlemen were presented to the Sovereign. During the reign of Queen Victoria, Drawing Rooms took place in the afternoon and Levees in the morning.

  • Creator(s)

    Roger Fenton (1819-69) (photographer)

    Edward Henry Corbould (1815-1905) (artist)

    Subject(s)

    Prince Albert, Prince Consort (1819-61)
    Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-1901)

  • 20.3 x 14.2 cm (image)

  • Photograph commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, 1854

  • Subject(s)
    • Science, Medicine and Technology
      • Home economics
        • The Home
          • Drawing rooms
    • Social sciences
      • Ethnology
        • Costume & National dress
          • Court Dress
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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