First photos taken on a royal tour to be exhibited at The Queen’s Gallery

The exhibition features original prints taken by Francis Bedford, photographer to the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII), and the first photographer to accompany a royal tour.

The Prince of Wales and party, Temple of Amun, Karnak
From left to right: Jemima Blackburn, artist; Ernst II Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Alexandrine, Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Robert Meade; Christopher Teesdale; Robert Bruce; Frederick Keppel; the Prince of Wales; unknown man (possibly Dr Minter); Revd Dr Stanley; unknown boy. Royal Collection © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In 1862, the Prince of Wales embarked on a four-month tour of the Middle East. The exhibition documents the journey through the work of Francis Bedford, which took the Prince to Egypt, Palestine and the Holy Land, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece.

Cairo to Constantinople: Early Photographs of the Middle East
Friday 08 March 2013 to Sunday 21 July 2013
The Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse

The exhibition will later move to The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace from 31 October 2014 – 22 February 2015.

For more information and to book tickets visit The Royal Collection Trust