Photograph
02/06/1953 (photographed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles, on the Coronation day of Queen Elizabeth II. In this head and shoulders portrait, the young Prince is wearing a dress-shirt, decorated with a medal and a lace neck-tie. He looks towards the camera with an inquisitive expression. His grandmother, who holds him around the shoulders, leaning her face towards him, is looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a diamond crown and jewellery. Over her gown, she wears a dark coloured sash which is decorated with ribbons and two miniature portraits. These miniature portraits are framed with jewels and appear to depict the new Queen (Elizabeth II) and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The scene is framed by a draped curtain; which reveals a painted backdrop depicting the exterior of Westminster Abbey (where the Coronation ceremony had taken place shortly before this sitting).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | photography |
| Brief description | Royal Portrait by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and Prince Charles. Coronation day of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, 1953. |
| Physical description | Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles, on the Coronation day of Queen Elizabeth II. In this head and shoulders portrait, the young Prince is wearing a dress-shirt, decorated with a medal and a lace neck-tie. He looks towards the camera with an inquisitive expression. His grandmother, who holds him around the shoulders, leaning her face towards him, is looking at the camera and smiling. She wears a diamond crown and jewellery. Over her gown, she wears a dark coloured sash which is decorated with ribbons and two miniature portraits. These miniature portraits are framed with jewels and appear to depict the new Queen (Elizabeth II) and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The scene is framed by a draped curtain; which reveals a painted backdrop depicting the exterior of Westminster Abbey (where the Coronation ceremony had taken place shortly before this sitting). |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Prince Charles and Princess Anne
2 June 1953
The Queen’s young children were full of energy throughout the afternoon. The serenity of the Queen Mother calmed the apprehensive photographer. ‘All at once, and because of her I was enjoying my work. Prince Charles and Princess Anne were buzzing about in the wildest excitement and would not keep still for a moment. The Queen Mother anchored them in her arms, put her head down to kiss Prince Charles’s hair, and made a terrific picture.’
Gelatin silver prints
V&A: E.1362-2010; Ph.324-1987; Ph.1089-1987; Ph.1099-1987
(2012) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed to the Museum in 1987 by Eileen Hose, secretary to the photographer |
| Production | Cecil Beaton photographed members of the royal family from 1930-1979. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Other number | B.647/69 - Beaton's number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | PH.1089-1987 |
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| Record created | January 18, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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