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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Queen of cartes

Joanna Gilmour discusses the role of the carte de visite in portraiture’s democratisation, and its harnessing by Victoria, the world’s first media monarch.

More information on Queen of cartes

Selected images

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Portfolio of 54 portraits compiled by Queen Victoria, 1859–1861 by John Jabez Edwin Mayall, Camille Silvy, Frances Day and William Bambridge
Portfolio of 54 portraits compiled by Queen Victoria, 1859–1861 by John Jabez Edwin Mayall, Camille Silvy, Frances Day and William Bambridge
Screen from Portfolio of 54 portraits compiled by Queen Victoria, 1859–1861 John Jabez Edwin Mayall, Camille Silvy, Frances Day and William Bambridge
Screen from Portfolio of 54 portraits compiled by Queen Victoria, 1859–1861 John Jabez Edwin Mayall, Camille Silvy, Frances Day and William Bambridge
The day before the wedding, 1863 by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
The day before the wedding, 1863 by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
Queen Victoria and Princess Beatrice, looking at a carte de visite of Prince Albert, 1862
Queen Victoria and Princess Beatrice, looking at a carte de visite of Prince Albert, 1862
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra on their wedding day, 1863 by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra on their wedding day, 1863 by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
Queen Victoria and her family, 1860s after John Jabez
Queen Victoria and her family, 1860s after John Jabez
Group of Royal Family early, 1860s by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
Group of Royal Family early, 1860s by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
HRH The Prince of Wales, 1860 by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
HRH The Prince of Wales, 1860 by John Jabez Edwin Mayll
Princess Alexandra and Princess Louise, 1868 by W & D Downey
Princess Alexandra and Princess Louise, 1868 by
W & D Downey
Princess Alexandra of Denmark, 1860 by E Lange
Princess Alexandra of Denmark, 1860 by E Lange
Lillie Langtry
Lillie Langtry, c. 1885 W & D Downey
Mary (Patsy) Cornwallis-West, c. 1880 by W & D Downey
Mary (Patsy) Cornwallis-West, c. 1880 by W & D Downey
12 images
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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