Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F , Case X, Shelf 914, Box I

Photograph

02/06/1953 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Colour photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on Coronation day, 2nd June 1953. The new Queen is crowned (this crown is known as the Imperial State Crown) and seated upon a gilded throne, upholstered in red brocade fabric. She holds her hands together in her lap and looks towards the camera with a calm and hopeful expression. She is dressed in an elaborately embroidered gown and wears a long dark velvet cloak. The cloak is embroidered with golden threads, to form a pattern of intertwining leaves. It is trimmed with a thick white and black fur and fastened with broad, golden braids and knots. The train of the cloak extends in rich folds into the foreground of the image. Prince Philip, stands to one side of the throne. He is dressed in a dark coloured military uniform (of Admiral of the Fleet), decorated with brass buttons, gold embroidery, medals and insignia. The scene is framed by red velvet drapery and carpeting. A curtain reveals a painted backdrop behind it, which depicts 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). Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on Coronation day 2nd June 1953.
Physical description
Colour photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on Coronation day, 2nd June 1953. The new Queen is crowned (this crown is known as the Imperial State Crown) and seated upon a gilded throne, upholstered in red brocade fabric. She holds her hands together in her lap and looks towards the camera with a calm and hopeful expression. She is dressed in an elaborately embroidered gown and wears a long dark velvet cloak. The cloak is embroidered with golden threads, to form a pattern of intertwining leaves. It is trimmed with a thick white and black fur and fastened with broad, golden braids and knots. The train of the cloak extends in rich folds into the foreground of the image. Prince Philip, stands to one side of the throne. He is dressed in a dark coloured military uniform (of Admiral of the Fleet), decorated with brass buttons, gold embroidery, medals and insignia. The scene is framed by red velvet drapery and carpeting. A curtain reveals a painted backdrop behind it, which depicts the exterior of Westminster Abbey (where the Coronation ceremony had taken place shortly before this sitting).
Dimensions
  • Image width: 41cm
  • Image height: 51cm
  • Paper width: 42.3cm
  • Paper height: 52.2cm
Gallery label
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh 2 June 1953 Beaton photographed the royal couple against a backdrop depicting a view of Westminster from the River Thames, based on an engraving by Edward Goodall after David Roberts. The backdrop reserved for portraits of the Queen alone depicted the interior of the Henry VII Lady Chapel at the Abbey. C-type print, printed 1987 V&A: Ph.305-1987 (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
Collection
Accession number
PH.305-1987

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
Record URL
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