The King and Queen have chosen to use their Coronation portrait for their Christmas card this year. The photographs were taken in the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace by Hugo Burnand. King Charles and Queen Camilla are not the first royal couple in the House of Windsor to have their photographs taken on their Coronation day.
King George V and Queen Mary had their photographed Coronation portrait completed after their Coronation on 22 June 1911. Taken by W & D Downey, The King was wearing the Robes of Estate and the Imperial State Crown while The Queen was wearing her Coronation gown and newly created crown.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth turned to a favourite photographer, Dorothy Wilding for their portrait after their 12 May 1937 Coronation. Given that the original plans for King Edward VIII’s coronation were kept and adapted for the new king and queen, it is particularly poignant that they were able to use one of their chosen photographers.
Queen Elizabeth II had well over a year to plan her 1953 Coronation, and she also turned to a favourite photographer for her portraits. She chose society favourite Cecil Beaton to photograph her in her Norman Hartnell-designed Coronation gown, the Robe of Estate and the Imperial State Crown. The Duke of Edinburgh wore the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, a title he was granted earlier that year.
