Queen Mary holds a distinguished place in British history. Her lifetime spanned six reigns, from Queen Victoria to her granddaughter, Elizabeth II, with both of her sons — George VI and Edward VIII — ascending the throne during her years. However, Mary’s contributions to the Monarchy extend beyond her roles as Queen and mother – she was a chronicler at capturing royal life through the royal lens keeping her photographs in extraordinary albums.
Between 1880 and 1952, Queen Mary curated 33 albums containing over 12,000 photographs, documenting everything from grand royal tours and official engagements to intimate family moments. Annotated by Mary herself, these albums provide an invaluable visual narrative of her life and the broader historical and social context of the era.
Queen Mary’s photographs have been undergone conservation. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Stored in the historic photographs collection of Windsor Castle, the albums are part of the Royal Collection. Until recently, only a fraction of these photographs had been made accessible. A 1989 book titled ‘Queen Mary’s Photograph Albums’ by Christopher Warwick, included some of these images, but the majority remained unseen by the public.
This changed with the Royal Collection Trust’s conservation and digitisation project, which began in 2019. The project’s goal is to preserve and share the albums more widely, aligning with the Trust’s mission of making the Royal Collection accessible to people around the world.
Mary’s albums underwent extensive conservation treatment by experts from the Royal Bindery and Paper Conservation teams. This work, which includes cleaning, repairing, and sometimes rebinding the albums, ensures their long-term preservation. In some cases, even the photographs themselves required treatment. Although the pandemic temporarily paused the project in 2020–21, the effort has resumed, with conservation likely to conclude within the next two years.
The photos will be available to view online. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
As of now, 26 of the 33 albums have been digitised, with their contents accessible on the Royal Collection Trust website. The digitisation process not only preserves the photographs but also captures entire album pages, including Queen Mary’s handwritten captions.
The photographs in the albums reflect a diverse array of styles and origins. Some were taken by amateur photographers, including family members, while others came from professional studio photographers and even unidentified professionals accompanying royal tours. Additionally, press photographs, often collected by Queen Mary’s staff, feature prominently. Together, these images offer a multifaceted view of royal life.
Photograph of the Duke and Duchess of York with the Princess
of Wales and Prince Edward of York, Sandringham, June 1895. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Highlights of the photographs include a range of pictures taken at Sandringham. One of the most intimate photographs from 1895 is attributed to Princess Victoria, the fourth child of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. This candid image captures a tender moment as the future Queen Alexandra holds her baby grandson, the future King. The young child playfully reaches for his father’s hat, a future King George V, while his mother, the future Queen Mary, looks on in the background. Taken during Queen Victoria’s reign, this photograph exudes familial warmth and underscores the close ties within the royal household.
Royal group photograph taken at Sandringham, November 1895. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
A formal yet remarkable group photograph taken at Sandringham in November 1895 provides a window into the royal lineage. Set against a studio backdrop in the Conservatory at Sandringham House, the image features several notable individuals, including George V, (then Prince George, Duke of York), holding the infant Prince Edward (future King Edward VIII), Queen Mary (then Princess Mary, Duchess of York), King Edward VII (then Albert Edward, Prince of Wales) and Queen Alexandra, (then Alexandra, Princess of Wales). Mary, who was pregnant with her second son, annotated the photograph with the names of those present, preserving this poignant moment in royal history.
King George V mowing the grass, Adelaide Cottage, 6 May 1915. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
A rare, informal photograph from 6th May 1915 shows King George V mowing the lawn at Adelaide Cottage, which is now the home of The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children. Dressed in a top hat and observed by his mother, the Dowager Queen Alexandra, the image is grounding. Queen Mary’s lighthearted caption, “G. in tall hat!” underscores the charm of the moment. The lawnmower, identified as a Thomas Green & Sons ‘Silens Messor,’ adds historical detail to this snapshot of royal domesticity.
Queen Mary visiting a Cambridge Hospital. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Several photographs from 1918 highlight Queen Mary’s active involvement with military engagements during the First World War. One shows her speaking with a patient at a Cambridge hospital, demonstrating her compassion and dedication. Another depicts her inspecting members of the Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps on 12th June 1918, with George V following close behind. The QMAAC, established in early 1917, was a pioneering organisation, with women contributing to various wartime roles, including communications, logistics, and motor vehicle maintenance. These images celebrate the contributions of women to the war effort and the monarchy’s role in supporting them.
Inspection of Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps, June 1918. © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust
Once the digitisation project is complete, all 33 albums will be available online, with further research planned to identify photographers and contextualise their work. This will shed light on the creative and logistical processes behind these remarkable visual records.
Queen Mary’s photograph albums stand as a testament to her dedication to documenting her world. Their digitization opens up a treasure trove of historical insight, inviting a global audience to explore the life of a queen and her royal family in unprecedented detail.
