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The Art of Monarchy

A collaboration with BBC Radio 4 to mark Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

The Art of Monarchy
The Art of Monarchy ©

An eight-part series, The Art of Monarchy, illuminates the long history of the Monarchy through the works of art acquired by British kings and queens.

The programmes present objects from Balmoral Castle in Scotland to the Royal Library at Windsor; and from the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. These objects  illustrate such diverse themes as faith, progress, war and legacy.

Learning resources to accompany the series have been developed in partnership with BBC Schools for key stages 1, 2 and 3. Teacher's resources can be accessed via the BBC's Famous People website, while additional online activities for children are available at BBC Primary History. 

To coincide with the Art of Monarchy, the Radio 4 blog is running a series of posts by Royal Collection curators. These can be accessed via the links below or directly on the Radio 4 and 4 Extra blog:

While the Royal couple chose Winterhalter to paint their official portraits, they also entrusted him with more private images. Here Queen Victoria is seen in an intimate and alluring pose, leaning against a red cushion with her hair half unravelled from i
Behind the Royal Image

In the first of the eight programmes, Will Gompertz looks at some of the most personal royal portraits in the Royal...

A silver-gilt table salt in the form of a tower with cylindrical corner turrets and a tall central turret with an open gallery and domed roof above, resting on a chased mound supported by dragons on ball feet, the salt is encrusted with jewels. The body o
Friend or Foe

For centuries, understanding enemies and forging alliances has been an essential component of statecraft. The Monarchy’...

The gold Ampulla or vessel is cast in the form of an eagle with outspread wings, on a domed and foliate base, and a foot chased with auricular scrolls and masks. The head of the eagle screws off, and there is an aperture in the beak for pouring the oil.
Faith

The monarch has been the head of the Church since Henry VIII rejected the authority of the Pope in the 16th century....

The gilded eight horse-drawn State Coach. Designed by William Chambers (1723-96) and made by the coachmaker Samuel Butler; featuring painted panels by Giovanni Cipriani (1727-85) and richly gilded carved sculpture by the carver Joseph Wilton (1722-1803),
Magnificence

Royal magnificence impresses strangers and intimidates enemies; it demonstrates the wealth and power of a nation and...

A posthumous portrait of Charles I, loosely based on the central head of the King from Anthony Van Dyck's portrait Charles I in Three Positions of 1635 (404420). Many such images in enamel, generally of poor quality, were produced for distribution to foll
People

The British Monarchy’s close and contractural relationship with its people has enabled it to survive internal upheavals...

Despite the uncertainty over Elizabeth's status after Anne Boleyn's execution, Henry VIII ensured that his daughter received a fine education. Together with her brother Edward she learned to write in the Italic hand which had been developed during the ear
Progress

The Monarchy has contributed significantly to the prosperity of its people by its understanding and promotion of...
Empire and Commonwealth

The development of a unified Britain, an overseas Empire and the evolution of the Commonwealth are told through objects...

A drawing of the head of a woman turned three quarters to the left, looking down. The hair is fastened in elaborate braids, and arranged in coils over the ears. This is a study for the head of Leda in the lost painting of <em>Leda and the Swan</em>.<br> <
Legacy

Art has played an important role in both affirming and glorifying the dynastic heritage and ambitions of the Monarchy....

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Subjects: Books, Ceramics, Drawings, Furniture, Jewels, Manuscripts, Oriental Works of Art, Paintings, Photographs, Sculpture, Silver, Textiles, Watercolours
Authors: Kate Heard, Rufus Bird, Anna Reynolds

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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.