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

    AFTER THOMAS PEARCE (ACTIVE C. 1850S)

    Group portrait at Balmoral

    1887 after an original of 18 Oct 1858

    Carbon print | 10.5 x 12.8 cm (image) | RCIN 2906730

    Photograph of a group portrait taken at Balmoral. Queen Victoria is seated on her pony, Malakoff. She is turned towards the camera. Prince Alfred stands in right side profile with his left hand on the pony.  Baroness Churchill stands beside the pony, facing left. John Brown stands holding the pony.

    • Creator(s)

      After Thomas Pearce (active c. 1850s) (photographer)

      Hughes & Mullins (1883-1917) (photographer)

      Subject(s)

      Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-1901)
      Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900)
      Lady Jane Spencer, Baroness Churchill (1826-1900)
      John Brown (1826-83)

    • annotation: The Queen/ Pce Alfred Ldy Churchill/ J. Brown holding the pony Malatoff./ Oct 18. 1858. Balmoral. [beneath work]

    • 10.5 x 12.8 cm (image)

      28.4 x 23.0 cm (page dimensions)

      29.5 x 24.5 x 6.0 cm (album)

    • Group, Balmoral, October 18th 1858 [Photographic Portraits Vol.2/60 1852-1859]

    • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

    • Subject(s)
      • Science, Medicine and Technology
        • Agriculture and related techniques
          • Animal husbandry
            • Horses
              • Malakoff (Queen Victoria's Pony, Balmoral)
              • Ponies
      • Places
        • Europe
          • Great Britain
            • Scotland
              • Aberdeenshire [Scotland]
                • Balmoral Castle [Aberdeenshire]
      • Social sciences
        • Ethnology
          • Costume & National dress
            • Costume-Great Britain
              • Costume-Scotland
                • Scottish Highland Dress
      Object type(s)
        • visual works
          • photographs
          • albums
            • photograph albums
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