This session enables pupils studying Art & Design and History to examine some of the techniques and skills used to look at an historical image and analyse the clues and narratives portrayed.

For centuries, portraiture has played a vital role in shaping the public’s perception of the Royal Family. Explore this exhibition to chart the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day and reveal the stories behind some of the most celebrated photographs ever taken of the Royal Family.

Focussing on a number of different types of Royal portraits displayed in this exhibition, Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography, the session will highlight how visual and tactile qualities of processes used by artists convey mood, ideas and feelings through the images and paintings on display. Through discussion and sketching pupils will make comparisons with other images in the exhibition and make links between the similar styles and techniques used.

Session times: 10:15 and 12:30

Duration: 90 minutes

Exclusive access opportunity!! Book your visit on a Tuesday in June or July 2024 and your group will be provided with access to the exhibition and gallery spaces outside of normal visiting opening times.

Available for booking: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Friday

Our learning programmes are designed to be accessible to all pupils.  Most of our sessions can be adapted to meet any educational or access needs your group may have.  Please ask for details when booking.

You may find the information for visitors on the Autism spectrum helpful when planning your visit to The King's Gallery. 

There are no lunch spaces available for groups visiting The King's Gallery. Green Park and St James’s Park are located nearby. Lunch room facilities are available at the nearby Girl Guiding UK ICANDO Centre on Buckingham Palace Road. For bookings please telephone 020 7592 1818.

To find out more or to make a booking contact the Learning Bookings team.

Please have to hand:

• Preferred date and possible alternatives, plus time of arrival
• Numbers of children and supervising adults
• The taught programme you would like
• Details of any special educational or access needs

You will then be sent a reservation letter, together with your teachers’ resource pack, giving a date by which full payment must be received to secure the booking.

Please note: you may be asked to cover the cost of the session if you cancel within short notice of your visit.  Non-booked schools will be charged at standard group admission rates.  Please see our Terms of Application for Learning Group Admissions.

Contact us

Learning Bookings Team
Ticket Sales and Information Office
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA

T. (+44) (0)303 123 7323
F. (+44) (0)20 7930 9625
[email protected]

Sharing Learning Objectives

You will find our learning objectives for each taught session on the relevant programme information page.  Sending us your learning objectives prior to your visit will help us tailor the session to your group’s requirements.

Planning Visits

Once you have made your booking, we offer two complimentary tickets for you and a colleague to conduct a planning visit.  If you would like to meet a member of the Learning team during this visit, please let us know at the time of booking.

Teachers' Packs for each site can be downloaded here.

Reduced-rate admission for school groups

Pre-booked school groups: £1 per pupil
Children in Reception or below: FREE

Accompanying adults
One teacher or adult helper is admitted free of charge at the following ratios:

Under 5s - 1 adult: 3 pupils
Years 1 to 3 - 1 adult: 6 pupils
Year 4 and above - 1 adult: 10 pupils

Please ask for details of rates for additional adults when booking.

Arrival

Following your booking a confirmation letter, with an agreed arrival time, will be sent to you; your letter serves as a ticket for your group. The group leader must have a copy of the confirmation letter to present on arrival.

Security Measures

Royal Collection Trust sites have airport-style security measures at all public entry points, through which all visitors, including school groups, are required to enter.  All adults and children will be asked to:

• Allow any bags to be searched by hand
• Walk through a metal detector arch, one at a time
• Switch off mobile phones

The Royal Collection Trust Learning section asks that teachers undertake the following guidelines to make entry to Royal Collection Trust sites as smooth and quick as possible:

• Please arrive at the Royal Collection Trust site at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time for the booked workshop
• Teachers and children should not bring the following: scissors, compasses, metal cutlery, sharp metallic implements
• Only bring what you need! The Royal Collection Trust Learning section will provide all necessary equipment such as clipboards, pencils and drawing materials (groups can bring their own sketchbooks if they prefer to use these)