The Royals

A luxurious visual guide to the past 500 years of the British monarchy

Public image has been a concern of every monarch since the dawn of visual culture, and depictions of rulers have consistently appeared through art history’s various mediums. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the National Portrait Gallery, London’s stunning collection of British royal portraiture. Through a continuous chronology spanning 500 years, from Henry VIII to Charles III, discover how kings and queens have positioned themselves to create images infused with strength, domesticity and love. Familiar pop culture subjects like Queen Charlotte and Princess Diana take their places among lesser-known figures of the British crown. Works are accompanied by captions that detail reigns, relationships, biographies and legacies. An introduction by curator Rab MacGibbon explains the history of the British royal family and its role in today’s society. The Royals is the newest addition to the National Portrait Gallery’s collection of books on British royalty.