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

21 - 21 Nov 1856

Albumen print hand-coloured with watercolour | 10.2 x 9 cm (image) | RCIN 2914272

Hand-coloured photograph of a three-quarter length portrait of Victoria, Princess Royal, later German Empress Frederick III (1840-1901) on her 16th birthday. The princess is seated, facing halfway to the right. She turns her head to look at the camera. She wears a white off-the-shoulders dress, a lace cap and white gloves. There is a green curtain in the background.

  • Creator(s)

    Thomas Richard Williams (1825-71) (photographer)

    Grey (active 1856) (colourist)

    Subject(s)

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

  • 10.2 x 9 cm (image)

  • Commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
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