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.

Glass plate negatives

Albert and Victoria’s collection of glass plate negatives show photographers’ working methods

      JOHN JABEZ EDWIN MAYALL (1813-1901)

      Family portrait with bust of Prince Albert

      Apr 1863

      RCIN 2082664

      Glass plate negative of a full length group portrait of royal family members taken after the wedding of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra. The object seems to be a cropped version of RCIN 2082662.

      The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. 
      • Creator(s)

        John Jabez Edwin Mayall (1813-1901) (photographer)

        Subject(s)

        Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom (1844-1925)
        King Edward VII, King of the United Kingdom (1841-1910)
        Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939)
        Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1819-1901)
        Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg (1857-1944)
        Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1853-84)
        Prince Albert, Prince Consort (1819-61)
        Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse & by Rhine (1843-78)
      • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert 

      • Subject(s)
        • Arts, Recreation, Entertainment & Sport
          • Plastic arts
            • Sculpture
              • Busts
        Object type(s)
          • visual works
            • photographs
              • negatives
                • glass plate negatives