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35 Best Royal Family Portraits Throughout the Years

We’ve learned quite a few valuable lessons from the royals over the years. For instance, Kate Middleton taught us some pretty neat parenting tactics, and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry continually remind us of the value of giving back. But if there’s one skill we admire most about the British monarchy, it’s their ability to pose for Instagram-worthy portraits.

From Queen Victoria to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, we rounded up a list of the 35 best royal family portraits throughout the years.

All the Nicknames in the Royal Family, From Queen Elizabeth to Baby Archie


royal famiy portrait victoria
Keystone/Getty Images

1. The Victorian Era

Meet the inspiration behind the British series, Victoria: Her Majesty’s great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. The royal is pictured with her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, during the 19th century.

royal family portrait 1902
Hulton Archive / Stringer/ Getty Images

2. Meet Queen Elizabeth Ii’s Great-grandparents

Among Princess Victoria and Prince Albert's children was King Edward VII, who tied the knot with Queen Alexandra in 1863. Fun fact: He was the sole ruler of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. His son, George V, later changed it to Windsor.

royal family 1893
Photo by W. and D. Downey/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

3. King George V Follows In His Dad’s Footsteps

This Buckingham Palace portrait features the queen’s grandparents, King George V (formerly the Duke of York) and Princess Mary of Teck. They’re posing alongside members of the immediate and extended royal family on their wedding day in 1983.

royal family portrait 1942
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

4. A Future Queen Is Born

King George V's son, George VI, married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923. They later welcomed two daughters: Princess Elizabeth (right) and Princess Margaret (left).

royal family portrait 1936
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

5. Like Mother, Like Daughters

The Queen Mother (then Duchess of York) poses with her girls in the garden of the Royal Lodge at Windsor in 1936.

royal family gathering
Roger Viollet via Getty Images

6. A Regal Gathering

Three generations of the British royal family are seen in this vintage snap, including Queen Mary, George VI, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother.

royal family 1947
Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

7. Elizabeth’s Wedding

On November 20, 1947, Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in a lavish ceremony. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were both present at the wedding.

royal family portrait 1948
Mirrorpix/Getty Images

8. The Queen Welcomes Her First Child

Elizabeth is all smiles while holding her newborn, Prince Charles, during his christening in 1948.

royal family 19601
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

9. A Royal Picnic

After Prince Charles, Elizabeth and Philip welcomed three more children: Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward (who was born after this pic was taken). A young Charles is seen sitting with his parents and siblings as they enjoy a picnic on the grounds of Balmoral Castle.

royal family portrait 1969
Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

10. Seeing Double

Her Majesty clearly passed down some strong genes. The mother-son duo sported matching smiles while posing for photos at Windsor Castle in 1969.

royal family portraits anne wedding
Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

11. Anne Says ‘i Do’

Anne, Princess Royal, married Mark Phillips in 1973—and as you can see from this pic, it was quite the family affair. Several members were in attendance, including Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, Prince Philip and Prince Charles, just to name a few.

royal family portrait diana charles
Tim Graham Photo Library / Getty Images

12. Prince Charles Gets Engaged To Diana

Taken after the announcement of their engagement in 1981, Princess Diana wore her iconic blue sapphire and diamond ring. (Anyone else still floored by Emma Corrin’s uncanny resemblance to the royal in The Crown?)

royal family diana wedding
David Levenson/Getty Images

13. A Wedding For The Ages

On July 29, 1981, 750 million viewers around the world tuned in as Diana tied the knot with Prince Charles during their fairytale wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

royal family 1983
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

14. Baby William Is Born

At Kensington Palace, Prince Charles and Diana play with their firstborn, Prince William, who they welcomed on June 21, 1982.

royal family portrait diana harry
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

15. Prince William Becomes A Big Brother

William’s brother, Prince Harry, was born on September 15, 1984. Prince Charles and Princess Diana proudly posed with their second child outside The Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London.

royal family portrait diana family
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

16. A Royal Family Outing

Princess Diana and Prince Charles enjoy a fun day outdoors with the boys, who are clearly having way too much fun to pay attention to the camera.

royal family portrait fergie
UK Press via Getty Images

17. Plaid Is The New Black

In this 1996 throwback, Queen Elizabeth’s second son, Prince Andrew, joins his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, for a Charity Golf Tournament at the Wentworth Golf Club. (If we didn’t know any better, we’d think Beatrice and Eugenie are twins).

royal family 1997
Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

18. Prince William's Major Milestone

On March 9, 1997, the royal family had plenty to celebrate. In honor of Prince William's Confirmation at Windsor Castle, they took this official portrait in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace.

royal family fergie 2
UK Press/Getty Images

19. The Birthday Shoot

Only a day before his 43rd birthday in 2003, Prince Andrew and his family gathered for a special photo shoot in Verbier, Switzerland.

royal family 2005
Hugo Burnand/Pool/Getty Images

20. Prince Charles Remarries

Prince Charles posed at Clarence House with his new bride, Camilla Parker Bowles, after they tied the knot in April 2005. There to celebrate the occasion was Prince Harry, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth II and Tom and Laura Parker Bowles.

royal family 2007
Chris Jackson/Getty Images

21. Prince Charles Hosts A Special Dinner

In November 2007, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were joined by their children at Clarence House when Prince Charles and Camilla hosted a dinner to celebrate his parents’ upcoming wedding anniversary. Standing behind the trio are Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

royal family portrait william wedding
Chris Jackson/ Getty Images

22. Prince William Is Officially Off The Market

Prince William was beaming after his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, Middleton, at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. Over 1900 guests were in attendance, including foreign royal family members and heads of state.

royal family portrait kate baby
Chris Jackson/ Getty Images

23. Prince George Is Born

The happy couple welcomed their first son, Prince George, in 2013. Keeping with tradition, the royals posed with their baby at The Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital.

royal family portrait charlotte
Getty Images

24. Prince George’s Big Brother Debut

After the birth of their second child, Princess Charlotte, in May 2015, William and Middleton released this heartwarming photo of George kissing his little sister. Talk about sibling goals.

25. A Royal Holiday

The royal couple released this gorgeous fall-themed family portrait and wished their followers a Merry Christmas in 2015.

royal family portrait skiing
Pool/Getty Images

26. The Family Hits The Slopes

Leave it to Prince William and Middleton to have stellar photo ops while skiing in the French Alps.

royal family harry wedding
WPA Pool/Getty Images

27. Prince Harry Ties The Knot

Prince Harry married Markle in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. Several stars were in attendance, including Serena Williams and Oprah Winfrey, while Idris Elba served as the DJ during the reception.

28. Holiday Greetings

The royals posed for this Christmas card photo at Kensington Palace in 2017, complete with color coordinated outfits and matching smiles.

royal christening portrait2
MATT PORTEOUS/PA

29. Prince Louis Is Born

That same year, Prince William and Middleton welcomed their third child, Prince Louis. After his christening at the Chapel Royal in St. James’s Palace, Kensington Palace released several photos of family members posing with the 11-week-old.

royal family portrait prince charles 70 birthday
Chris Jackson / Getty Images

30. Prince Charles Celebrates A Milestone Birthday

To mark his 70th birthday, Prince Charles posed in the gardens of Clarence House with his family, including Bowles, Prince William, Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry and Markle.

royal family 2019
WPA Pool/Getty Images

31. Meghan And Harry Become A Family Of Three

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, on May 6, 2019. Here, the happy parents are seen with Archie in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle.

archie christening
CHRIS ALLERTON/GETTY IMAGES

32. A Royal Celebration

Two months after Archie was born, he was christened at the queen's private chapel at Windsor Castle—the same place where Prince Harry was christened.

33. Meghan And Harry Announce Their Second Pregnancy

In 2021, it was confirmed that little Archie would become a big brother after Markle and Prince Harry's photographer, Misan Harriman, shared a sweet black-and-white photo of the couple.

royal family portrait cambridge
Comic Relief via Getty Images

34. The Cambridge Family Makes A Special Appearance

This pic of Prince William and his family cheering on frontline workers practically looks like a stock photo.

royal family bond premiere

35. The Bond Premiere

William, Prince Charles, Middleton and Bowles looked rather sharp at the world premiere of No Time to Die in London.



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