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)

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944)

Mar 1861

RCIN 2082537

Glass plate negative of a full length portrait of Princess Beatrice standing, facing a quarter to the right and gazing ahead. She holds a hat trimmed with feathers in her hands, placing it on top of a table draped with a patterned fabric. A striped shawl sits on top of the table.

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. A print from this negative exists in the Collection, RCIN 2900499.
  • Creator(s)

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

    Subject(s)

    Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg (1857-1944)
  • Acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

  • Object type(s)
      • visual works
        • photographs
          • negatives
            • glass plate negatives