Master John of Hever

This haunting image is widely regarded as the earliest known photograph of a member of the British royal family.

It depicts Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, and was created around 1842 using one of photography’s earliest processes, the daguerreotype.

At the time, photography was still a technological novelty, having been publicly introduced only three years earlier in 1839.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were enthusiastic supporters of the new medium. They quickly recognized photography’s potential to document family life, public events, and historical moments.

Under their patronage, photography gained prestige throughout Britain and became increasingly accessible to the middle class during the Victorian era.

By the 1850s, photographic portraits were replacing painted miniatures as the preferred way for families to preserve their likenesses.

The royal family’s willingness to sit for photographs helped legitimize the practice and accelerate its adoption across Europe and North America.

Queen Victoria amassed one of the largest photographic collections of the 19th century.

By the end of her reign in 1901, the Royal Collection contained tens of thousands of photographs, creating an unparalleled visual record of Victorian Britain and the royal family itself.

🐎 Celebrating 50 years since The Princess Royal competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games.

📸 Anwar Hussein / @GettyVIP

“I think I will best remember him as always being there, and a person you could bounce off ideas, but if you were having problems you could always go to him and know that he would listen and try to help.” - Princess Anne

Happy Heavenly Birthday to Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh ♡

A great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria, Prince Philip was born in Corfu to Prince Andrew of Greece & Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg on June 10th 1921.

Following education in France, Germany, and Britain, Philip joined the Royal Navy in 1939 and saw active service during World War II, including the Battle of Crete and the Allied invasion of Sicily.

He married the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, and the couple shared four children together - King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew & Prince Edward.

The Duke of Edinburgh served as the Consort to Queen Elizabeth II for over 60 years and became the longest serving British consort in 2009, and throughout his public life was patron, president, or member of over 700 organisations.

Today would have been his 104th birthday.

Portland Bill Lighthouse, Dorset, UK.

Another of my own photographs, taken in June 2023.

10th June 1921 - Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born… Philippos Schleswig- Holstein Soenderburg-Glücksburg, on the Greek island of Corfu. Prince Philip’s family were exiled from Greece in 1922. Philip attended schools in France and Germany ,before competing his education at  Gordonstoun School in Scotland.

Philip joined the Royal Navy in 1939, and served with distinction until 1946. He went on to serve with both the British Army and the RAF.

The young Princess Elizabeth first caught Prince Philip’s eye when she was just 13 years old (uh-hmm). The love-struck teenagers regularly exchanged letters during WWII… and they married in November 1947.

Personal note:

A glimpse of Putney’s past…

This historic view of Putney High Street shows just how much the area has evolved over the years — while still remaining at the heart of the community.