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

JOSEPH CUNDALL (1819-95)

T'he Honourable Mrs Biddulph in her wedding dress'; Lady Mary Biddulph (1824-1902) in her wedding dress

1857

Albumen print hand-coloured with watercolour | 8 x 6.8 cm (image) | RCIN 2914276

Photograph of a head and shoulder length portrait of Lady Mary Biddulph (1824-1902), facing three-quarters to the right. She wears a bridal dress, and floral wreath on her head. She carries a small posy of flowers. Mary Frederica Seymour was Maid-in-Honour to Queen Victoria and and married Colonel Biddulph on 16 February 1857. After her marriage she became a honourary Woman of the Bedchamber.

  • Creator(s)

    Joseph Cundall (1819-95) (photographer)

    Locke (active 19th century) (colourist)

    Subject(s)

    Lady Mary Frederica Biddulph (1824-1902)

  • 8 x 6.8 cm (image)

  • Commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Social sciences
      • Ethnology
        • Social customs
          • Marriage
            • Brides
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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