Never before seen portrait of Princess Diana will be displayed at Kensington Palace
A never before seen portrait of the Princes of Wales will go on display at Kensington Palace as part of a royal photography exhibition.
Life Through a Royal Lens, which opens on Friday, will feature iconic photographs of the Royal Family over the last 200 years – including the stunning image of Diana, taken by David Bailey in 1988.
The black and white image was part of a famous collection commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, but kept by the renowned photographer for his personal archive.
The striking portrait, taken at the peak of Diana’s popularity, was one of a number of formal and informal images and clearly demonstrates the royal’s emerging sense of style.
A never before seen portrait of the Princes of Wales will go on display at Kensington Palace as part of a royal photography exhibition tomorrow
Life Through a Royal Lens will feature iconic photographs of the Royal Family over the last 200 years – including the stunning image of Diana, taken by David Bailey in 1988
Bailey, 84, is an acclaimed fashion and portrait photographer who photographed the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2014 to mark her 88th birthday.
English portrait photographer Norman Parkinson was initially suggested to take the photos, however Diana herself chose Bailey – who had previously shot Princess Margaret’s husband, the Earl of Snowdon.
Himself an esteemed photographer, the work of Antony Armstrong Jones will also be featured in the exhibition alongside other images taken by Royal Family members themselves.
Parkinson will feature in the collection alongside famous photographers including Rankin, Annie Leibovitz and Cecil Beaton – whose spent three decades photographing Her Majesty.
Parkinson will feature in the collection alongside famous photographers including Cecil Beaton – whose spent three decades photographing Her Majesty. She is pictured in 1953
Her Majesty is pictured wearing Garter robes in a portrait photographed by acclaimed royal photographer Cecil Beaton in 1969
Princess Margaret, whose husband Lord Snowdon’s work features in the exhibit, is pictured in a portrait shot by Cecil Beaton aged 19 in 1949
Among the images are 19th century photographs of Queen Victoria sitting for her Diamond Jubilee portrait in 1897
Among the images are portraits, taken by Beaton, of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother as well as 19th century photographs of Queen Victoria sitting for her Diamond Jubilee portrait.
The exhibit includes pictures of Queen Victoria on a visit to Balmoral and King George digging potatoes with Queen Mary.
Photoshoots such as the Duke of Cambridge’s cover of Attitude Magazine and the Duchess of Cambridge’s centenary issue of British Vogue in 2016 will ‘explore how photography and image remain central to the public’s perception of the modern royal family today’.
Alongside the professional shots, pictures of the Royal Family taken by members of the public will also go on display in the exhibition.
The photos were submitted by royal watchers around the world in response to a request by Historic Royal Palaces.
Queen Victoria is pictured in Balmoral riding her horse Fyvie, with her servant John Brown in 1863
Queen Elizabeth is pictured in Buckingham Palace Garden, photographed by Cecil Beaton in 1938
Queen Mary digs with a spade within a potato plot in Windsor, with King George beside her in May 1917
The exhibit features a length portrait of Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1860 which was sent to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert while they were considering potential brides for their eldest son, Albert Edward
The photos had to be of official engagements and there was a particular interest in walkabouts. Paparazzi-style shots taken by the public of the royals spending time privately were not accepted.
Claudia Acott Williams, Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, said: ‘Ever since Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first embraced the revolutionary new technology of photography, the medium has shaped how the world views the British monarchy.
‘It has allowed the Royal Family to offer fascinating insights into their life and work, transforming the royal image and creating an unprecedented relationship between crown and subjects.
‘Through our new exhibition at Kensington Palace, Life Through A Royal Lens, we look forward to welcoming our visitors into the world of royal photography, to explore the history behind the iconic image of modern monarchy we know today.’
Life Through a Royal Lens opens at Kensington Palace on 4 March 2022 and is included in palace admission.