The Queen with her Maids of Honour
1 of 6 portraits of Lady Moyra Kathleen Campbell-Grove (née Hamilton)
The Queen with her Maids of Honour
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print, 2 June 1953
18 1/8 in. x 15 1/8 in. (460 mm x 383 mm) sight
Given by Mr Ford Hill and the American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery (London) Foundation, Inc., 2015
Primary Collection
NPG P1454
Artistback to top
- Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer. Artist or producer associated with 1114 portraits, Sitter associated with 360 portraits.
Sittersback to top
- Lady Moyra Kathleen Campbell-Grove (née Hamilton) (1930-), Wife of Peter Colin Drummond Campbell-Grove; daughter of 4th Duke of Abercorn. Sitter in 6 portraits. Identify
- Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022), Reigned 1952-2022. Sitter associated with 972 portraits. Identify
- Anne Veronica (née Coke), Baroness Glenconner (1932-), President of charitable organisations; Extra Lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret; wife of 3rd Baron Glenconner; daughter of 5th Earl of Leicester. Sitter in 15 portraits. Identify
- Lady Rosemary Mildred Muir (née Spencer-Churchill) (1929-), Lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth II; wife of Charles Robert Muir; daughter of 10th Duke of Marlborough. Sitter in 11 portraits. Identify
- Jane Antonia Frances (née Vane-Tempest-Stewart, later Lacey), Lady Rayne (1932-), Former wife of Max Rayne, Baron Rayne, and later wife of Robert Lacey; daughter of 8th Marquess of Londonderry. Sitter in 4 portraits. Identify
- Lady Mary Russell (née Baillie-Hamilton) (1934-2022), Maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth II's coronation; former wife of John Adrian Bailey, and later wife of David Vernon Russell; daughter of 12th Earl of Haddington. Sitter in 3 portraits. Identify
- (Nancy) Jane Marie Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 28th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby (1934-), Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery; Maid of Honour at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II; daughter of 3rd Earl of Ancaster. Sitter in 5 portraits. Identify
This portraitback to top
Beaton was commissioned to take the official photographs of the Coronation, due in great part to the support of the Queen Mother, whom he had first photographed in 1939. Queen Elizabeth chose six Maids of Honour for her Coronation ceremony, following a precedent set by Queen Victoria. For this photograph Beaton placed the Maids of Honour in the order they had stood in Westminster Abbey. To the left can be seen a portrait of Richard Colley Wellesley, Marquess Wellesley (1760-1842) by Sir Martin Archer Shee (1769-1850).
The Maids of Honour were Lady Mary Baillie-Hamilton (now Lady Mary Russell), Lady Vane-Tempest-Stewart (now The Lady Rayne), Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (now The Baroness Willoughby de Eresby), Lady Anne Coke (now The Lady Glenconner), Lady Rosemary-Spencer-Churchill (now Lady Rosemary Muir) and Lady Moyra Hamilton (now Lady Moyra Campbell).
Placesback to top
- Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: England, London (Green Drawing Room, Buckingham Palace, London)
Portrait setback to top
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1953back to top
Current affairs
A combination of low pressure in the North Sea, hurricane force winds, and high tides result in the Great Flood of 1953. With no warning system many were trapped in their homes as 20-foot waves crashed on the coast; hundreds were killed at sea and on the east coast.John Hunt's British Expedition conquers Everest. News of the achievement reached Britain on the day of Elizabeth's coronation.
Art and science
Frances Crick and James Watson discover the double helix structure of DNA. Uncovering DNA's chemical make-up revolutionised our understanding of the building blocks of life.Ian Fleming publishes his first James Bond novel, Casino Royal.
Chad Varah founds 'The Samaritans' helpline.
International
Joseph Stalin dies four days after suffering a stroke. It has been suggested that Stalin was assassinated, as he was denied medical assistance for over a day after he was found; many suspect that he was poisoned. On his death Georgy Malenkov became leader of the Soviet Union.Comments back to top
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