Prince Albert (1819-1861)

During a stay in Brighton in March 1842, Prince Albert visited the photographic studio of William Constable where he sat for a portrait. While the first sitting was a failure Prince Albert persevered and returned to Constable's studio for a second sitting. This photograph is from that second sitting. Whilst significantly faded, the daguerreotype portrait presents an unmistakable likeness of the Prince and is the first known photograph to have survived of a member of the British royal family. Queen Victoria commented in her journal on the photographs, stating 'Saw the photographs which are quite good' [RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 7 March 1842].