A recent social media post celebrating International Women’s Day showcased a series of iconic portraits of female royals throughout history. It began with one of the most famous images of
Queen Elizabeth II—a 1952 portrait by Dorothy Wilding. This striking photograph formed the basis for the Queen’s likeness on coins, banknotes, and stamps, making it one of the most recognizable royal images of all time.
The tribute continued with a 2020 portrait of Queen Camilla, captured in a relaxed pose by photographer Jennifer Pattison. The inclusion of this image highlighted the evolving role of women in the monarchy and their enduring presence in the public eye.
Also featured was an important historical portrait of Queen Victoria, taken by Frances Sally Day, the first female photographer to capture members of the Royal Family. Queen Victoria commissioned several portraits from Day, including images of Prince Albert and their children, many of which were taken at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.
A striking 1980 portrait of Princess Anne by Jane Brown also made the list, showing the Princess Royal in a contemplative moment. Meanwhile, an early 20th-century image of the future Queen Alexandra, taken by renowned royal photographer Alice Hughes, underscored the long history of women behind the camera as well as in front of it. Hughes, the daughter of portrait painter Edward Hughes, photographed many prominent royals, including Queen Mary.
Rounding out the collection was a recently released birthday portrait of the Duchess of Edinburgh, taken by London-based fashion photographer Christina Ebenezer. Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, reportedly handpicked Ebenezer for the shoot, which took place at her home, Bagshot Park, on the Windsor Estate. The relaxed and confident images reflect Sophie’s growing prominence within the Royal Family and her increasing role as one of its most respected members.
With this carefully curated selection of portraits, Sophie emerged as a central figure in the Royal Family’s International Women’s Day tribute, solidifying her status as one of the monarchy’s leading stars. Photo by Carfax2, Wikimedia commons.
