CLICK HERE TO ADD YOUR EVENT

Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

This exhibition at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day!

Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

About Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography

For centuries, portraiture has played a vital role in shaping the public’s perception of the Royal Family. This exhibition charts the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day, bringing together photographic prints, proofs and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives.

Discover works from the most celebrated royal photographers, from Cecil Beaton and Dorothy Wilding to Annie Leibovitz and Rankin. Explore some of the close relationships between royal sitters and photographers, seen most clearly through the lens of Antony Armstrong-Jones (later Lord Snowdon), who married Princess Margaret in 1960.

The exhibition sheds light on behind-the-scenes processes, from photographers’ handwritten annotations to correspondence with members of the Royal Family and their staff, revealing the stories behind some of the most celebrated photographs ever taken of the Royal Family.

This exhibition is taking place at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, formerly known as The Queen’s Gallery.

Image: Princess Margaret, 1967 Photograph: Snowdon (RCIN 2335975) ©

Sponsored Links

Wonder & Co
Escape The Past
Fayre Play
Hilton Glasgow

Other Events at The Palace of Holyroodhouse

Drawing the Italian Renaissance

17th October 2025 - 1st March 2026

This exhibition at The Palace of Holyroodhouse, brings together a wide range of drawings from this revolutionary artistic period, including 45 drawings never exhibited in Scotland before.

READ MORE

Beneath the Surface: King’s Gallery Short Talks

Selected dates between 23rd October 2025 - 26th February 2026

Join our team at the Palace of Holyroodhouse for weekly gallery talks as part of the exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance!

READ MORE

Family Drawing Workshop

Selected dates between 29th November 2025 - 20th February 2026

Take inspiration from drawings in our latest exhibition Drawing the Italian Renaissance and join us for a special family drawing workshop.

READ MORE

Drawing the Italian Renaissance: Curator’s Introduction

Selected dates between 5th December 2025 - 29th January 2026

Join exhibition curator Lauren Porter at The King's Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse as she discusses works from Drawing the Italian Renaissance!

READ MORE

Drawing the Italian Renaissance: BSL Tour

31st January 2026

Join our British Sign Language tour of the Drawing the Italian Renaissance exhibition at The King's Gallery, Edinburgh.

READ MORE

Conservator Talk: Conserving the Campi Cartoon

6th February 2026

Victoria Button, Royal Collection Trust’s Head of Paper Conservation, discusses her work in preparing drawings for presentation in Drawing The Italian Renaissance, on display at The King's Gallery.

READ MORE

Family Yoga: Early Years

13th February 2026

Taking inspiration from Drawing the Italian Renaissance join us for a fun family yoga session full of movement, music, songs and stories. Suitable for children 16 months to 4 years old.

READ MORE

Storytelling: Inspired by drawings

17th February 2026

Join storyteller Claire McNicol as she explores tales inspired by drawings of the Italian Renaissance in an exciting interactive storytelling session.

READ MORE

Curatorial Talk: The Patrons of the Renaissance

27th February 2026

Join Martin Clayton, Head of Prints and Drawings at Royal Collection Trust, for this lunchtime lecture as he discusses the vital role of patrons in the creation of Italian Renaissance art.

READ MORE

Sponsored Links

Local Motive Markets
The Chocolatarium
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon
Hostelworld

Similar events you might like...

Turner in January

Turner in January

1st January 2026 - 31st January 2026

Following the incredible success of last year's blockbuster exchange with the National Gallery of Ireland, Scotland's own much-loved Turners are back in Edinburgh for 2026!

READ MORE
Exhibition: Scotland at Night

Exhibition: Scotland at Night

9th January 2026 - 29th January 2026

This exhibition at the Scottish Storytelling Centre is a captivating compilation of night photography highlighting the beauty, geology and compelling history of Edinburgh and beyond.

READ MORE
Paper Trails

Paper Trails

10th January 2026 - 31st January 2026

Paper Trails presents a focused selection of works on paper by &Gallery’s represented artists this January.

READ MORE
Drawing the Italian Renaissance: BSL Tour

Drawing the Italian Renaissance: BSL Tour

31st January 2026

Join our British Sign Language tour of the Drawing the Italian Renaissance exhibition at The King's Gallery, Edinburgh.

READ MORE
The Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition

The Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition

31st January 2026 - 1st February 2026

Are you planning your wedding in Scotland and looking for the best Edinburgh wedding suppliers? Then come along to The Edinburgh Wedding Exhibition, one of the largest wedding shows in Scotland!

READ MORE
Giants

Giants

31st January 2026 - 14th September 2026

Discover life-sized 3D sculptures, skeletons, and fossils in this immersive, family friendly exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland!

READ MORE
The Biba Story: 1964–1975

The Biba Story: 1964–1975

6th February 2026 - 27th June 2026

The Biba Story explores how fashion phenomenon Biba blossomed to become the world’s first lifestyle label, sparking a revolution in how people shopped.

READ MORE
Shorthair & All Breed Championship Cat Show

Shorthair & All Breed Championship Cat Show

14th February 2026

The annual GCCF Championship Cat Show will be held on Saturday 14th February at West Lothian College Sports Hall, Livingston. It's a purr-fect day out for cat lovers everywhere!

READ MORE
Classic Trucks & Tractors

Classic Trucks & Tractors

28th February 2026 - 1st March 2026

From the organisers of Truckfest comes Classic Trucks & Tractors, a brand-new show on 28th Feb & 1st March 2026 at the Royal Highland Centre.

READ MORE

Find other events in Edinburgh

Sponsored Links

Wonder & Co
Escape The Past
Fayre Play
Hilton Glasgow
Local Motive Markets
The Chocolatarium
ATG
Edinburgh Dungeon
Hostelworld

Popular Events

Panto 2025: Jack and the Beanstalk
Join Allan Stewart, Grant Stott and Jordan Young for the GIANT of a pantomime we've all BEAN waiting for!
Castle Of Light
Make Castle of Light: Fire and Ice part of your festive plans and enjoy the largest annual projection show in the UK when it returns for its sixth year!
Edinburgh’s Christmas: The Polar Ice Bar
Take some time to ‘chill’ at the Polar Ice Bar, the coolest bar in the city, where your table, chairs and glasses are sculpted entirely from ice.
Gyle Winter Wonderland
This year, the Gyle Shopping Centre is pulling out all the stops for the biggest and brightest Christmas experience yet!
Edinburgh’s Christmas: Christmas Market
One of the most iconic Christmas Markets in Europe, Edinburgh's Christmas Market returns to East Princes Street Gardens showcasing the best in artisan festive products and goods from local makers!

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall