King Edward VII dressed in costume of the Grand Prior of the Order of St John of Jerusalem for the Devonshire House Ball

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King Edward VII dressed in costume of the Grand Prior of the Order of St John of Jerusalem for the Devonshire House Ball, by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd), 1897 - NPG - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

King Edward VII dressed in costume of the Grand Prior of the Order of St John of Jerusalem for the Devonshire House Ball

by Lafayette (Lafayette Ltd)
contact print on gold-toned printing-out paper, 1897
13 7/8 in. x 11 in. (353 mm x 279 mm) overall
acquired Victoria & Albert Museum, 1998
Photographs Collection
NPG x128600


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  • King Edward VII (1841-1910), Reigned 1901-10. Sitter associated with 345 portraits.

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After Prince Albert's death in 1861, the mourning queen absented herself from fancy dress events. The Prince of Wales and his wife presided in her place. In 1897, the Devonshire House Ball was staged to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. Now motivated more by amusement than antiquarian concerns, the participants still endeavoured to ensure the authenticity of their dress. This photograph, taken for an album recording the guests' appearance, reveals the Prince of Wales in a striking outfit hired from the London costumiers, L. & H. Nathan. Earlier, in 1879, he had commissioned the French artist, Jules Bastien-Lepage to depict him in Tudor dress.

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