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19 Official Portraits of the British Royal Family

Travel back in time and witness the change of history with these incredible official portraits of the British royal family.

King GEORGE IV of England, 1762-1830, reigned 1820 - 30, Prince Regent from 1811 due to his father's madness (Sir Thomas Lawrence)
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King George IV

King George IV of England reigned for ten years, from 1820 to 1830. His father, King George III, bought Buckingham Palace in 1761 and turned it into a royal residence. Take a look at these 12 rarely seen photos of Buckingham Palace.

The Duke and Duchess of FIFE; Louise, Princess Royal, 1867-1931, daughter of King Edward VII and grandaughter of Queen Victoria married Alexander Duff, 6th Earl of Fife in 1899; photograph by W & D Downey, London
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The Duke and Duchess of Fife

Alexander Duff, 6th Earl of Fife married Louise, Princess Royal, (the eldest daughter of King Edward VII) in 1889.

QUEEN VICTORIA, KING GEORGE V, KING EDWARD VIII, KING EDWARD VII - 1895
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Four royal generations, 1895

Queen Victoria sitting with her great-grandson, the future King Edward VIII. Behind her is her grandson, the future King George V and eldest son, the future King Edward VII. Take a look at these candid, rarely seen photos of the current royal family.

British royal family and its European connections - 1897. In centre is Queen Victoria surrounded by her children and their spouses, and by some of her numerous grandchildren. Victoria is seated with Alexandra, Princess of Wales. The Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, stands beside the Queen. Photograph
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The royal family with friends, 1897

In the center, Queen Victoria sits while surrounded by her children, in-laws, grandchildren, and other European royalty. Find out some of the perks of being a member of the royal family.

Photograph taken during the Christening of Princess Elizabeth Alexander Mary (1926- Present). Back row (L to R) Duke of Connaught, HM King George V, Duke of York, Earl of Strathmore. Front row (L to R) Lady Elphinstone, HM Queen Mary, Duchess of York and baby, Countess of Strathmore, Princess Mary, and Viscountess Lascelles. 1926
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A royal christening, 1926

Queen Elizabeth holding then-Princess Elizabeth as an infant on the day of her christening. King George V stands second from the left with King George VI (then the Duke of York) to the right.

Photograph of the Duke and Duchess of York. A formal photograph of the late King George VI (1895 - 1952) and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (1900 - 2002). 1928
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King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 1928

Before they were King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, this royal couple was known as the Duke and Duchess of York.

Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth II) with her sister Margaret and mother Queen Elizabeth.
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Like mother like daughters, 1937

Queen Elizabeth sits next to then-Princess Elizabeth and holds Princess Margaret. Though photographs show the royal family so close, there have been at least 10 shocking royal family feuds throughout history.

Wedding Day of the Duke of Windsor (formerly King Edward Viii) to Mrs Wallis Simpson On the 3rd June 1937 at the Chateau De Cande Near Tours in France 1937
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Edward VIII marries Wallis Simpson, 1937

King Edward VIII stepped down from the throne in order to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson, who had been married twice before. Their royal titles became Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Find out 12 more times the royal family broke their own protocol.

London, England: September 15, 1947 The Royal Family prepares for the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Phillip Mountbatten. L-R: Princess Elizabeth, Lt. Mountbattten, Queen Elizabeth, King George, and Princess Margaret Rose.
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Preparing for the wedding, 1947

Then-Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, and Princess Margaret before the wedding of Elizabeth and Philip (second from left). Take a look at the 19 most iconic royal wedding photos throughout history.

An Official Wedding Portrait Of Princess Elizabeth And The Prince Philip - Prince Philip Taken After Their Wedding Ceremony The Wedding Group With Best Man Bridesmaids (including Princess Margaret Rose (21 August 1930 ? 9 February 2002) Right Beside Prince Philip) And The Page Boys.. Lady Mary Cambridge Is Third From Left Princess Alexandra of Kent Is Fourth From Left. Original Library Print In Packet: Lp3d - Queen Elizabeth II - Wedding Day 1947
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Princess Elizabeth marries Prince Philip, 1947

Then-Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, married after he received permission from King George VI and became a naturalized British citizen. (He was actually born in Greece!)

The Royal Family photographed at Buckingham Palace after the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 1953
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Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, 1953

At a young 25 years old, Princess Elizabeth took the throne and became Queen Elizabeth II.

Silver Wedding Day 1972 Pickles The Dog Surveys The British Royal Family As They Pose For Pictures In The Drawing Room Of The Belgian Suite At Buckingham Palace This Morning November 20th. The Occasion Was The Royal Couple's Silver Wedding 25 Years After Their Wedding On November 20th 1947. From Left In The Picture Are: Prince Charles (prince Of Wales) The Heir To The Throne Aged 24; Prince Edward (earl Of Wessex) The Youngest Child Aged 8; The Queen Prince Philip (duke Of Edinburgh) Prince Andrew (duke Of York) Aged 12 And Princess Anne (princess Royal) 22.
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The silver anniversary, 1972

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary with their children: (from left to right) Prince Charles, Prince Edward, Prince Andrew, and Princess Anne. Oh, and don’t forget the family dog, too. Can you find him? You’d never believe the real reason why the Queen has owned so many corgis.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana
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The Prince and Princess of Wales, 1981

Prince Charles, the oldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, married Lady Diana Spencer on July 29, 1981.

DUCHESS AND DUKE OF YORK
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Duke and Duchess of York, 1986

Prince Andrew, the third child of the Queen, married Sarah Ferguson in 1986 but they divorced 20 years later. Need a refresher on who’s who in the House of Windsor? This royal family tree explains it all.

QUEEN MOTHER OFFICIAL 90th BIRTHDAY PICTURE
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The Queen Mother turns 90, 1990

The Queen Mother seated with her daughter Princess Margaret, grandson Prince Andrew, and granddaughter Princess Anne. The Queen Mother lived to be 100, the only royal family member to live that long.

Princess Anne AND Tim Laurence WITH HIS MOTHER, Prince Philip, Peter Phillips, Zara Phillips AND Queen Elizabeth II
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Princess Anne marries Timothy Laurence, 1992

Queen Elizabeth II’s only daughter, Princess Anne, married Timothy Laurence (her second husband) in Scotland because the Church of Scotland allows remarriages for divorced people. Though Timothy has no official royal title, the Queen knighted him in 2011. Here 9 other things the Queen actually has the power to do.

Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Laura and Tom Parker Bowles, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II and Major Bruce Shand in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle
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Prince Charles marries Camilla Parker Bowles, 2005

The official portrait of Prince Charles and his second bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall on their wedding day. On the left: Charles’ children, Prince Harry and Prince William, and Charles’ parents, Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II. On the right: Camilla’s children, Laura and Tom Parker Bowles, and her father, Major Bruce Shand.

Official Portraits of the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, London, Britain - 29 Apr 2011
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Prince William marries Catherine Middleton, 2011

Prince William, the eldest son of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, married Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge.

This official wedding photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, shows - The Duke and Duchess in The Green Drawing Room, Windsor Castle, with (left-to-right): Back row: Master Jasper Dyer, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Ms. Doria Ragland, Prince William ; middle row: Master Brian Mulroney, Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Miss Rylan Litt, Master John Mulroney ; Front row: Miss Ivy Mulroney, Miss Florence van Cutsem, Miss Zalie Warren, Miss Remi Litt.
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Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle, 2018

Prince Harry, Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s youngest son, makes history by marrying American actress Meghan Markle. This is the first time a member of the British royal family was born in America. Next, find out the unusual royal traditions and ceremonies you never knew existed.