Leopold III, King of the Belgians
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Leopold III, King of the Belgians
by Speaight Ltd
bromide print, 1937
7 5/8 in. x 5 1/4 in. (195 mm x 133 mm) overall
Given by Fraser Robinson on behalf of Ian Lucas (from the collection of Ethel Keide)
Photographs Collection
NPG x199630
Sitterback to top
- Leopold III, King of the Belgians (1901-1983), Reigned 1934-51; son of King Albert I. Sitter in 14 portraits.
Artistback to top
- Speaight Ltd (active 1904-1940), Photographers. Artist or producer associated with 101 portraits.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1937back to top
Current affairs
George VI becomes king. The younger brother of Edward VIII was crowned on the 12th May and the coronation was broadcast to Britain and the Empire on the radio. Edward becomes the Duke of Windsor, although the rank of 'Royal Highness' is not extended to Wallis Simpson.Neville Chamberlain becomes Prime Minister following Baldwin's retirement.
Art and science
Roland Penrose organises a tour of Picasso's painting Guernica to the UK. The painting, which shows the horrors of the Spanish Civil War, went on display at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in East LondonInternational
Commercial airship travel is brought to an end with the 'Hindenberg Disaster'. The German airship exploded while landing in New Jersey. The radio broadcaster Herbert Morrison's reaction has become legendary: 'Oh, the humanity!'Japan invades China, killing about 25,000. Japanese Troops committed numerous atrocities against soldiers and civilians in what became known as the 'Rape of Nanking'.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
marc vermeire
10 April 2019, 20:49
This must be taken during a state visit of King Leopold III to GB. In those days that uniform was the most formal, the actual dark blue gala uniform with stand up collar was only introduced again during the mid sixties. ( State visit of King Beaudouin to Iran )
King Leopold does ware the sash and the star of the Order of the Garter and the Royal Victoria Chain. The other stars are the star of the Order of Leopold ( Grand Cordon ) and the star ( Grand Cross ) of the Order of the African Star - ( the one with the crown ) in those days the
highest knighthoods in Belgium.
Rik Raedschelders
09 May 2018, 15:44
I think the supposed date of this portrait (1923) is incorrect. The insignia on King Leopold's collar are those of a Lieutenant General, the highest rank in the Belgian army at that time. Leopold III only became Lieutenant General (and Commander-in-Chief) of the Belgian army upon his accession in 1934. The King's uniform is also a 1930s uniform and not an earlier one (the difference lies in the collar: Belgian army uniforms had a stand-up collar - worn without a tie - until the middle of the 1930s. Even photographs of King Leopold III during his oath-taking as King of the Belgians show him with an stand-up collar.) That is why I think this picture dates from somewhere after 1934.
Rik Raedschelders
20 June 2019, 02:06
Perhaps this photograph was taken during the visit of King Leopold III to Britain in 1937? The original footage (British Pathé) shows the Belgian King wearing a similar uniform (although the decorations are note the same as in the photograph): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6XnmrJtt4c