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Exhibition

Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

Black and white portrait of Princess Margaret, 1967
Princess Margaret, 1967 (RCIN 2335975) Photograph: Snowdon

The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace

  • Next event: Friday, 17 May 2024
    Every Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Friday, 17 May 2024 - Sunday, 6 Oct 2024)
  • Adult £19.00
    Young Person (18-24) £12.00
    Child (5-17) £9.50
    Disabled £9.50
    Access companion Free
    Under 5 Free
    £1 tickets - for those on Universal Credit and other named benefits (17 May-8 July only). Read more about the £1 ticket offer.
  • The Queen’s Gallery has now become The King’s Gallery.
  • Adults, Groups (15+ people)
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For centuries, portraiture has played a vital role in shaping the public’s perception of the Royal Family. This exhibition will chart the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day, bringing together more than 150 photographic prints, proofs and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives. 

Discover works from the most celebrated royal photographers, from Cecil Beaton and Dorothy Wilding to Annie Leibovitz and Rankin. Explore some of the close relationships between royal sitters and photographers, seen most clearly through the lens of Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Lord Snowdon), who married Princess Margaret in 1960.

The exhibition will shed light on behind-the-scenes processes, from photographers’ handwritten annotations to never-before-seen correspondence with members of the Royal Family and their staff, these materials will reveal the stories behind some of the most celebrated photographs ever taken of the Royal Family.

This exhibition is taking place at The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace formerly known as The Queen’s Gallery.

Events for groups

Map & directions

The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
By train

The nearest train stations are London Victoria (10 minute walk) or London Charing Cross (20 minute walk). 

Visit National Rail Enquiries for times and fares.

By underground

The nearest tube stations are Victoria, Green Park, St. James's Park and Hyde Park Corner (all approximately 10 minutes walk).  

For further information visit the Transport for London website.

By coach / bus

Bus numbers 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road.  Victoria Coach Station is a 10-minute walk from the Palace.  

For further information visit the Transport for London website.