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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Glass plate negatives

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

Royal animals

      Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s documentation of their surroundings extended to commissioning photographers, such as Dr Ernst Becker and William Bambridge (1810-79), to capture their pets and farm animals. Shown below, the resulting negatives feature a range of cattle, horses and cats as well as various dogs bred at the Royal Kennels. Such animals were mainly kept at Windsor’s Home Park or within the royal estates at Balmoral and Osborne. This section also includes a series of negatives relating to deer stalking, a pastime of Prince Albert while staying at Balmoral.

       

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