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Photograph

1943 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Photograph depicting King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother are seated upon a gilt and upholstered sofa in the foreground. They turn to face each other, in conversation. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother rests one hand on the surface of the upholstery between them. The two princesses also look towards their father, who appears to be speaking or telling a story. All three women are smiling and appear amused. Princess Margaret sits close to her mother, perched on the arm of the sofa; while Princess Elizabeth, stands behind them, resting her folded arms on the back of the chair. The room is heavily furnished, with gilded and panelled decorations on the walls. A glowing fire is partly seen at the edge of the image, beneath a large mirror and a mantle decorated with vines; carved statuettes and a candle holder adorn its top. A large oil painting is hung on the wall behind the family. The painting depicts a lady wearing a gown; a small dog scurries at her feet.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
photography
Brief description
Royal Portrait by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). Photograph depicting King George V1, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943.
Physical description
Photograph depicting King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret, Windsor Castle, 1943. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother are seated upon a gilt and upholstered sofa in the foreground. They turn to face each other, in conversation. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother rests one hand on the surface of the upholstery between them. The two princesses also look towards their father, who appears to be speaking or telling a story. All three women are smiling and appear amused. Princess Margaret sits close to her mother, perched on the arm of the sofa; while Princess Elizabeth, stands behind them, resting her folded arms on the back of the chair. The room is heavily furnished, with gilded and panelled decorations on the walls. A glowing fire is partly seen at the edge of the image, beneath a large mirror and a mantle decorated with vines; carved statuettes and a candle holder adorn its top. A large oil painting is hung on the wall behind the family. The painting depicts a lady wearing a gown; a small dog scurries at her feet.
Dimensions
  • Image width: 17.2cm
  • Image height: 21.4cm
  • Paper width: 17.2cm
  • Paper height: 21.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • '260-52' (Written in pencil on the reverse. Positioned lower centre.)
  • 'For release Feb.26 in U.S' (Written in pencil on the reverse. Positoned upper center.)
  • 'Life Magazine / (Pictures Division) / London / Our Number [illegible signiture] / Fee to Pay When Used' (Printed with a stamp, in grey ink on the reverse. Signiature written in red pencil. Positioned upper centre.)
  • 'Reviewed and Passed / U.S Army / Feb 1944 / Press Censor / E.T.O. U.S.A.' (Printed with a stamp, in lilac ink on the reverse. Positioned centre, on right hand side.)
Gallery label
The Royal Family, Windsor Castle November 1943 Throughout the war, King George and Queen Elizabeth spent the working day at Buckingham Palace, staying at Windsor Castle at night. It lies about thirty kilometres from the centre of London and is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Beaton photographed the royal family in the State Apartments at Windsor in the winter of 1943. His portraits of Princess Elizabeth were released the following April to mark her eighteenth birthday. Gelatin silver print Ph.460-1987 (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
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Strong, Roy C. Cecil Beaton: the royal portraits. London: Thames and Hudson, c1988. p. 100
Other number
260-52 - Beaton's number
Collection
Accession number
PH.460-1987

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
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