Back in Time Today
Queen Victoria, who ruled Britain from 1837 to 1901, lived during photography’s early development and embraced this new technology.
Her reign coincided with photography becoming accessible to the public, and she used it to shape her royal image.
These seven remarkable photographs capture significant moments throughout her 63-year reign, offering glimpses into her personal life, political power, and lasting legacy.
1. The Domestic Harmony: 1860 Double Portrait with Prince Albert
Captured by pioneering photographer J.J.E. Mayall, this formal yet intimate portrait shows the royal couple in their element. Prince Albert sits thoughtfully with an open book while Victoria stands beside him, handkerchief in hand, creating a tableau of domestic harmony.
The photograph helped popularize the carte-de-visite format among ordinary Britons, who eagerly collected images of the royal family. Victoria approved this image for public distribution, understanding how photography could bridge the gap between monarchy and subjects.
This portrait remains especially poignant as it was taken shortly before Albert’s untimely death in 1861, preserving a moment of contentment before Victoria’s world changed forever.
2. A Tender Farewell: 1854 Portrait Before Prince Albert’s Departure
This poignant photograph captures a quiet moment between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert before his journey to the Crimean War. Their body language speaks volumes about their devotion—Albert absorbed in reading while Victoria stands protectively nearby.
Unlike the staged formality of other royal portraits, this image conveys genuine intimacy. The photographer caught them in a natural pose that reveals their working partnership and emotional connection.
Victoria treasured this photograph during Albert’s absence, keeping it close as a comfort. Though Albert never actually reached the Crimean battlefields, this image symbolizes the anxiety of separation that would become permanent after his death seven years later.
3. The People’s Monarch: 1860s Carte-de-Visite Portraits
Revolutionary for their time, these small calling-card portraits by J.J.E. Mayall transformed how the public viewed their queen. Victoria broke with tradition by allowing these images to be mass-produced and sold commercially throughout Britain.
Ordinary citizens could now own a piece of royalty for the first time. These cartes-de-visite became collector’s items, displayed proudly in Victorian parlors alongside family photographs.
Victoria appears dignified yet approachable in these portraits, wearing her signature widow’s black but with a hint of warmth in her expression. This savvy use of the new medium helped humanize the monarchy during a period of rapid social change.
4. Imperial Majesty: 1876 Portrait as Empress of India
Following Parliament’s proclamation of her as Empress of India in 1876, Victoria embraced a new visual identity. This commanding portrait showcases her transformation from grieving widow to imperial ruler of a vast global empire.
The photograph features Victoria adorned with symbols of both British and Indian sovereignty. Her expression conveys unwavering authority—a stark contrast to her earlier, more domestic portraits.
Behind the scenes, Victoria developed a genuine fascination with Indian culture, even learning Hindustani phrases from her Indian secretary Abdul Karim. This photograph represents not just a political title but Victoria’s evolving role as figurehead of the world’s largest empire.
5. Six Decades of Rule: 1897 Diamond Jubilee Portrait
Marking an unprecedented 60 years on the throne, this dignified portrait captures Victoria at the height of her global influence. The elderly queen appears remarkably composed despite the grand celebrations happening across her empire.
Her weathered face tells the story of a woman who ascended the throne as a teenager and now ruled a quarter of the world’s population. Dressed in her customary black but adorned with royal jewels, Victoria balances personal mourning with public duty.
The photograph was reproduced on commemorative items throughout the British Empire. For millions of subjects who would never see her in person, this image defined what their monarch looked like during the jubilee festivities.
6. Royal Continuity: 1893 Photograph with Future Monarchs
Taken at Balmoral Castle on August 12, 1893, this remarkable multi-generational portrait connects Britain’s past with its future. Victoria sits centrally with her grandson, the future King George V, and his wife Mary, visually establishing the royal succession.
The composition speaks volumes about Victoria’s role as matriarch. Though diminutive in stature, she dominates the photograph through her central placement and commanding presence.
Victoria had outlived many of her children by this point, making this connection to her grandchildren particularly significant. This photograph reassured the public that the monarchy would continue smoothly after her long reign—a promise fulfilled when George V eventually took the throne in 1910.
7. Eternal Devotion: Post-Mortem Photograph of 1901
This solemn final image captures Victoria after her death on January 22, 1901, surrounded by mementos of her beloved Albert. Following Victorian traditions of memorializing the dead, the queen appears peaceful, almost as if sleeping.
The photograph’s most touching details are the portraits of Albert and a locket containing his hair placed near her hands. Even in death, Victoria remained devoted to the husband she had mourned for forty years.
Royal photographers captured this private moment before her state funeral. While such post-mortem photography seems unusual today, it provided Victorians with a tangible memento of loved ones and offered the public a dignified final glimpse of their long-reigning monarch.