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.

Visit the Royal Collection

Portraiture

Prince Albert was an early adopter of portrait photography

    AFTER WILLIAM EDWARD KILBURN (1818-91)

    The first six children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

    May 1848

    Salted paper print | 9.4 x 11.7 cm (image) | RCIN 2900001

    Photograph of a group portrait of Mrs Thurston with the first six children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The children are, from left to right, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, Princess Helena Victoria, Princess Royal, Princess Alice (seated in front), Prince Alfred and Princess Louise, held by Mrs Thurston.

    Photograph is after a daguerreotype by William Edward Kilburn.

    • Creator(s)

      After William Edward Kilburn (1818-91) (photographer)

      Attributed to Nicolaas Henneman (1813-98) (photographer)

      Subject(s)

      King Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom (1841-1910)
      Empress Friedrich, German Empress and Queen of Prussia (1840-1901)
      Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse & by Rhine (1843-78)
      Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900)
      Princess Helena (1846-1923)
      Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939)
      Mary Ann Thurston (1810-96)

    • annotation: [numbering, corresponding with sitters/ 1. The Prince of Wales 2. Princess Helena. 3. Princess Royal./ 4. Princess Alice. 5. Prince Alfred./ 6 & 7. Mrs Thurston with Princess Louise in her arms./ May: 1848./ By Kilburn. [beneath work]

    • 9.4 x 11.7 cm (image)

    • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

    • Object type(s)
        • visual works
          • photographs
    PreviousNext
    PreviousNext