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Photograph

02/06/1953 (photographed)
Artist/Maker
Beaton, Cecil (Sir) (photographer)
Place of origin
Buckingham Palace (photographed)

Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II with six Maids of Honour. Coronation day, Buckingham Palace, 1953. Queen Elizabeth II is seated on a low sofa, wearing the crown and coronation robes. The train of the robe is extended before them on the floor; displaying its embroidery and border of fur. The Maids of Honour are seen standing in two rows of three to her sides. They are wearing short-sleeved embroidered gowns, with dress-gloves which reach above the elbow, and tiaras. The scene is an interior, with ornate wall coverings, drapery and upholstery as well as a patterned carpet. A large painted portrait of a man hangs on the wall in the background, in a heavy gilt frame.

Object details

Categories
Photographs
Portraits
Royalty
Object type
Photograph
Materials and techniques
photography
Paper
Gelatin Silver Process
Brief description
Royal Portrait by Cecil Beaton (1904-1980). Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II, with six Maids of Honour. Coronation day, Buckingham Palace, 1953.
Physical description
Photograph depicting Queen Elizabeth II with six Maids of Honour. Coronation day, Buckingham Palace, 1953. Queen Elizabeth II is seated on a low sofa, wearing the crown and coronation robes. The train of the robe is extended before them on the floor; displaying its embroidery and border of fur. The Maids of Honour are seen standing in two rows of three to her sides. They are wearing short-sleeved embroidered gowns, with dress-gloves which reach above the elbow, and tiaras. The scene is an interior, with ornate wall coverings, drapery and upholstery as well as a patterned carpet. A large painted portrait of a man hangs on the wall in the background, in a heavy gilt frame.
Dimensions
  • Image width: 20cm
  • Image height: 24.8cm
  • Paper width: 20cm
  • Paper height: 24.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'B647/6' (Written in pencil on reverse.)
Gallery label
(2012)
Queen Elizabeth II with her Maids of Honour
2 June 1953

In selecting six Maids of Honour, the Queen followed the precedent of Queen Victoria. From left to right, they were:
Lady Moyra Hamilton (now Lady Moyra Campbell)
Lady Anne Coke (now The Rt Hon. The Lady Glenconner)
Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill (now Lady Rosemary Muir)
Lady Mary Baillie-Hamilton (now Lady Mary Russell)
Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (now The Rt Hon. The Baroness Willoughby de Eresby)
Lady Jane Vane-Tempest-Stewart (now The Rt Hon. The Lady Rayne)

Gelatin silver print
V&A: Ph.1530-1987
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.
Subject depicted
HM Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Place depicted
Buckingham Palace
Other number
B.647/6 - Beaton's number
Collection
Prints, Drawings & Paintings Collection
Accession number
PH.1530-1987

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O244763/photograph-beaton-cecil-sir/
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