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

THOMAS RICHARD WILLIAMS (1825-71)

'Victoria, Princess Royal, Princess Frederick William of Prussia'; Victoria, Princess Royal, later German Empress Frederick III (1840-1901)

25 - 25 Jan 1858

Albumen print hand-coloured with watercolour | 14.2 x 11.4 cm (image) | RCIN 2914280

Hand-coloured photograph of Victoria, Princess Royal, later German Empress Frederick III (1840-1901), seated, facing three-quarters to the left. She wears her wedding dress decorated with flowers, a flower garland with veil attached and white gloves. Two insignias are attached to her dress, on her left shoulder.

  • Creator(s)

    Thomas Richard Williams (1825-71) (photographer)

    Grey (active 1856) (colourist)

    Subject(s)

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

  • 14.2 x 11.4 cm (image)

  • Commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Subject(s)
    • Social sciences
      • Ethnology
        • Social customs
          • Marriage
            • Wedding Ceremonial Costume
              • Wedding dresses
    Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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