Kensington Palace 'Life Through a Royal Lens'

 

Sidney Herbert

Florence Nightingale

Interestingly, Queen Viuctoria disliked her image, so on purpose she smudged the glass negative so any prints would show her face all blurred away!

The room where Queen Victoria was born. Made to look how it would have looked.

Queen Victoria's Emeralds. The Tiara currently on,loan to Sothebys.

The Fife Tiara. A wedding gift to Princess Louise from her parents King Edward VII & Queen Alexandra

The Kokoshink Tiara.  Again one of Princess Louise's

The Statue of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Sculpted by Ian Rank-Broadley

Ahead of the Jubilee events, I paid a visit to Kensington Palace

I was fortunate to have some of my photographs included in the exhibition 

'Life Through a Royal Lens' so went to see it for myself!

Firstly I stopped by the Sunken Garden to see the much talked about Statue of 

Diana, Princess of Wales.

 I will be honest in that it was a little bit of a disappointment. Didn't really encapsulate the Princess in my opinion, but nevertheless, a nice tribute. Though don't think Diana would ever wear the shoes she is seen wearing in the statue!!

Kensington Palace this year didn't have the many Roya Clothes on exhibition it has become famous for in recent exhibitions. The Photography exhibition was really lovely (a bit overcrowded at times though - covid regulations having been now totally relaxed!)

Unseen images of Diana Princess of Wales to  King Edward VII as Prince of Wales were on show. All very interesting to see, and displayed very well. A lovely informal one of the Queen & Prince Philip was a favourite. Asw well as the Beaton images of the young Queen and her family.

My own photos were on a Digital display (a screen where 25 chosen images were slowly changing/.)Yes a little sad they weren't framed like all the others, but still a proud moment for me!!

Onto the other rooms at the palace. The toom where Queen Vuctoriua was bortn, to the spectacular Jewel Room

Afterwards, it was a short stroll round the Union Jack clad streets of London. Oxford Street and Regent Street looked amazing. Then on a recce of The Mall (for Trooping the next day) I saw the statues of Florence Nightingale & Sidney Herbert.

London I had missed you!!!

Photographs Copyright Paul Ratcliffe