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

      DR ERNST BECKER (1826-88)

      Prince Alfred, later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1900), in the costume of Sikh Prince

      Sep 1854

      Hand coloured salted paper print | 12 x 15.5 cm (image) | RCIN 2943816

      Hand-coloured photograph of a full length portrait of Prince Alfred, later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1900), wearing the costume of a Sikh Prince. He is captured lying supine on a banquette, with his left arm positioned behind his head. He wears a red and white turban, green shirt and stripy trousers and is barefoot. 

      It is possible that the costume was a gift from Maharaja Duleep Singh (1838-93), who visited Osborne in August 1854.

      • Creator(s)

        Dr Ernst Becker (1826-88) (photographer)

        Subject(s)

        Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900)

      • 12 x 15.5 cm (image)

      • From an album presented to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert, 24th May 1854

      • Subject(s)
        • Religion & Theology
          • Religions and faiths
            • Sikhs
        Object type(s)
          • visual works
            • photographs
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