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British RoyalsPrince & Princess of Wales

Duchess of Cambridge opens The Victoria & Albert Museum’s new Photography Centre

The Duchess of Cambridge opened the Victoria & Albert Museum’s new photography centre last night, her first visit to the Museum since becoming its patron earlier this year.

Per Kensington Palace, the opening exhibit, “Collecting Photography: From Daguerreotype to Digital” featured pieces from the V&A’s collection of over 800,000 photographs with “contemporary photography alongside seminal prints by pioneers William Henry Fox Talbot, Julia Margaret Cameron and Roger Fenton.”

Other photographers who will have their work displayed in the exhibit include Agnes Warburg, Madame Yevonde, Cindy Sherman, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, and Walker Evans.

During her visit last night, Kate met with the V&A’s curators and its Director, Tristram Hunt, and toured the exhibits within the museum before unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening of the Photography Centre. She was able to see Queen Victoria’s coronet, a sapphire bandeau designed by Prince Albert, that will officially go on display to the public in 2019.

According to Kensington Palace, the Photography Centre “will more than double the space dedicated to photography where prints, negatives, camera equipment, photographic publications and original documents will be displayed together to tell a broader story of international photography.”

When Kate’s patronage was officially announced at the end of March, the V&A’s Director, Tristram Hunt, said in a statement that he was delighted to be working with the Duchess, who has a well-known talent for photography herself.

“The Duchess’ personal interest in photography, textiles and the visual arts, alongside her support for the role of art in supporting mental health and nurturing young people’s creative talent, fits naturally with the collections and civic purpose of the V&A.”

Kate had previously visited the V&A Museum in June 2017 to open the Museum’s new entrance on Exhibition Road.

“Collecting Photography: From Daguerreotype to Digital” officially opens to the public on Friday, 12 October.

About author

Jess Ilse is the Assistant Editor at Royal Central. She specialises in the British, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Royal Families and has been following royalty since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. Jess has provided commentary for media outlets in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Jess works in communications and her debut novel THE MAJESTIC SISTERS will publish in Fall 2024.