The Royal Collection

The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important art collections in the world, and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact. Read more

Explore the Collection

Close up of the spines of volumes

Georgian Papers Programme

An ambitious five year programme to provide access to the Georgian papers in the Royal Archives

Loans from the Royal Collection

Learn more about our active loan programme

Painting being moved by art handlers

Detail from a portrait of the marriage of Princess Helena

Trail

Royal weddings

Learn more about the history of Royal weddings through items from the Royal Collection

Screenshot of The Royal Collection Near You Tool

The Royal Collection Near You

A new map to explore connections between the Royal Collection and places across the UK

Film

Indian Manuscripts in the Royal Collection

Conservation work was needed to allow these manuscripts to be safely displayed

Detail from the Gita Govinda

Past Exhibition

High Spirits

Relive our look at the comic art of Thomas Rowlandson

Backlist publication

Gems and Jewels

The first survey of the gems and jewels in the Royal Collection, now digitally available

The Prince of Wales and his entourage on camels posing for camera in front of Pyramid of Cheops and Pyramid of Cephrenes, Giza, Cairo. The Prince is seated on the camel fifth from the left. The man in the white suit with a cigar, gazing up at the Prince,

Collection trails

Delve into the stories behind the Royal Collection

Conservation

Find out about our work conserving the Royal Collection, ensuring that objects are maintained to the highest possible standards.

CASE STUDY

A hidden musical surprise

Cleaning this inkstand uncovered a surprising element in need of repair

The musical mechanism being delicately returned to the casing

Exhibition Highlights

Star Collection items, featuring in current exhibitions.

Padshahnama fol. 1.b
A shamsa (image of the sun) was regularly placed on the frontispiece of a manuscript made for a royal patron. According to the official historian of Shah-Jahan's grandfather, the Emperor Akbar: 'The Shamsa is a divine light, which Go

The Padshahnama opening sunburst

Treasures from the Royal Library's collection of Indian Manuscripts

An articulated gold fish with inlaid rubies to represent its eyes and an emerald inlaid into the head. The fish holds a smaller fish in its mouth. Flexible gold fish such as this example were used as containers for perfume or antimony (see for example RCI

Ornamental gold fish

The future Edward VII toured India in 1875-6

This and another picture (RCIN 404416) form a pair, much larger than the other twelve views on the Grand Canal, and were engraved as the final two plates of Visentini's <em>Prospectus Magni Canalis Venetiarum </em>(Venice, 1735), thus providing an unconte

The Bacino di San Marco

Canaletto's incomparable views of Venice

For years, the Royal Collection's double portrait of an <em>Electress and her Son </em>received little attention.

Electress and her son

Recently attributed to Cranach, on display at Windsor Castle

About the Royal Collection

The Royal Collection is one of the largest and most important collections in the world and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact.

Collectors

Learn more about the sovereigns and consorts who have influenced the shape and diversity of the Collection.

In this well-known picture Queen Victoria is skilfully depicted as both sovereign and mother. The scene is one of domestic harmony, peace and happiness, albeit with many allusions to royal status: grandeur in the form of jewels and furniture, tradition (t

Quick Links

Official Royal Residences

The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.