Queen Elizabeth II; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

1 portrait on display in Room 32 at the National Portrait Gallery

Queen Elizabeth II; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, by Cecil Beaton, 2 June 1953 - NPG - © V&A Images; On loan from American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery (London) Foundation, Inc.: Gift of Mr. Ford Hill.

© V&A Images; On loan from American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery (London) Foundation, Inc.: Gift of Mr. Ford Hill.

Queen Elizabeth II; Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

by Cecil Beaton
C-type colour print, 2 June 1953
19 in. x 15 5/8 in. (484 mm x 397 mm)
Lent by Gift of Mr Ford Hill, American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery (London) Foundation, Inc., 2011
Primary Collection
NPG P1458


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  • Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer. Artist associated with 1051 portraits, Sitter associated with 314 portraits.

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The Coronation sitting took place in the Green Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace. Beaton's friend Patrick Matthews, managing director of Vogue Studios had helped manage technical and practical preparations. Two painted backdrops were used for the sitting. The backdrop shown here depicts a view of Westminster Abbey from the river, and is based upon the engraving View of the Debarkation on Lord Mayor's Day (1844) by Edward Goodall. The backdrop and red canopy also reference George Hayter's compositions for his Coronation portrait of Queen Victoria (1840). Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is shown wearing the uniform of Admiral of the Fleet.

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