The display includes images too delicate to be on permanent view.

Buckingham Palace is gearing up to reveal some hidden gems from the royal archives. An exciting new exhibition, “Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography,” is set to open at The King’s Gallery on May 17. This showcase promises to chronicle the journey of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to today through more than 150 items, many of which are being shown to the public for the very first time.

This exhibition is packed with vintage prints, unseen proofs, and even some archival correspondence, offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes magic of royal photography. For instance, one previously unseen photograph features Queen Elizabeth holding baby Prince Edward in 1964, alongside Princess Margaret, Princess Alexandra, and the then-Duchess of Kent, all holding their newborns. This rare moment was captured by Antony Armstrong-Jones, Princess Margaret’s husband, as a thank-you gift to the royal obstetrician, Sir John Peel, who had delivered all four babies within two months.

The collection also includes heartwarming photos of Queen Elizabeth’s parents, King George VI and the Queen Mother, taken by famed photographer Cecil Beaton during World War II. These portraits were designed to bring a sense of stability and hope during turbulent times. A particularly touching image shows the royal couple inspecting bomb damage at Buckingham Palace in 1940, while another from 1943 captures a young Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret around their father’s desk at Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Due to their delicate nature, these vintage images can’t be displayed permanently. The collection is a rich tapestry of history, featuring the earliest known color photo of a royal family member, the Queen Mother’s personal copy of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation portrait from 1953, Andy Warhol’s glittering portrait of the Queen from 1985, and even one of Kate Middleton’s 40th birthday portraits. The Duchess of Cambridge’s milestone birthday picture will be exhibited alongside an 1864 portrait of Alexandra, Princess of Wales, with whom it shares a striking resemblance.

Guided by the familiar voice of Dame Joanna Lumley, the display also features contributions from celebrated photographers like Rankin, John Swannell, and Hugo Burnand, who has a long-standing relationship with King Charles and Queen Camilla. Burnand recently took their official coronation portraits in May 2023.

If you’re fascinated by royal history, this exhibition is a must-see. You can also look forward to works by legendary photographers such as Dorothy Wilding, Annie Leibovitz, Polly Borland, and David Bailey.

So mark your calendars! “Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography” opens at The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace on May 17.