The Royal Collection Trust has announced a new a major exhibition at The King’s Gallery in London, which will transport visitors back to the Edwardian era. Titled The Edwardians: Age of Elegance, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the lives, tastes, and enduring legacy of two iconic royal couples: Edward VII & Alexandra and George V & Mary.
It’s set to be the first Royal Collection Trust exhibition ever to explore the Edwardian era, bringing together more than 300 items, with a majority of items on display for the first time.
Franz Xaver Winterhalter, King Edward VII
when Prince of Wales, 1864. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust)
François Flameng, Queen Alexandra, 1908. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust)
Among the standout pieces is a blue enamel Art Nouveau cigarette case adorned with a diamond-encrusted serpent, a gift from Edward VII’s mistress Alice Keppel in 1908, symbolising eternal love. Alice Keppel’s connection to contemporary royalty is also notable; she was the great-grandmother of Queen Camilla, who reportedly referenced their family ties when first meeting the now-King Charles III.
Fabergé, Cigarette case, 1908. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust)
Visitors will be captivated by examples of the dazzling jewellery worn by Queens Alexandra and Mary. These include Alexandra’s Dagmar necklace, a wedding gift from her father, the King of Denmark, and Mary’s Love Trophy Collar necklace, both exhibited publicly for the first time. These stunning pieces are displayed alongside paintings of grand court events by Laurits Tuxen and portraits by renowned society painters like Philip de László and John Singer Sargent, all capturing the glamour of Edwardian fashion.
Left: Jules Diderikson, The Dagmar Necklace,
1863.
Right: Attributed to R. & S. Garrard, ‘Love
Trophy’ Collar, 1901.
(© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust)
The exhibition also recreates the opulent interiors of royal residences such as Marlborough House and Sandringham, showcasing the decorative objects, family photographs, and personal mementos that once adorned their walls and tables. Among the treasures is a Cartier crystal pencil case set with diamonds and rubies, displayed for the first time, and a collection of over 20 Fabergé items, underscoring the royals’ enthusiasm for fine artistry.
Cartier, Pencil case, c.1910. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust)
The Edwardians were avid collectors and patrons of contemporary arts and literature, with the exhibition showcasing an extraordinary array of their acquisitions. Visitors can admire a previously unseen study of Sleeping Beauty by Sir Edward Burne-Jones and luminous portraits by Frederic Leighton and Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Literary highlights include a copy of Oscar Wilde’s Poems, inscribed by the author, and an early edition from William Morris’s Kelmscott Press, reflecting the era’s engagement with Aestheticism and the Arts and Crafts movement.
Photography also played a significant role in the Edwardian era, both as an artistic medium and a means of documenting daily life. The exhibition will feature works by pioneering female photographers Mary Steen and Alice Hughes, alongside personal snapshots taken by Alexandra using a portable Kodak camera.
Queen Alexandra, George V (when Prince
of Wales) and Princes Edward and Albert
(later Edward VIII and George VI), 1905. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust)
Curator Kathryn Jones said: ‘The Edwardian era is seen as a golden age of style and glamour, which indeed it was, but there is so much more to discover beneath the surface. This was a period of transition, with Britain poised on the brink of the modern age and Europe edging towards war. Our royal couples lived lavish, sociable, fast-paced lives, embracing new trends and technologies. Yet in their collecting we also see a need to retain tradition and record the rapidly changing world around them, as if to preserve a fading way of life. The outbreak of World War I shattered their world, marking the end of an age and forever changing the face of monarchy.’
The Edwardians: Age of Elegance is at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace from 11th April to 23rd November 2025. This extraordinary exhibition is a must-visit for those intrigued by history, fashion, and the enduring legacy of Edwardian royalty.
