Photographs With Much History To Tell and a Future To Which To Look Forward

For my commentary on the christening ceremony, click here.

     
     These are the pictures that many have been waiting for, and which will be remembered for posterity.

 Yesterday brought about the release of the official portraits from the christening of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, which were taken by professional photographer Jason Bell, who was hired when Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge was impressed by his work at the National Portrait Gallery, an organization of which she is patron.

     The portraits were taken in the Morning Room at Clarence House, the London residence of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, which was formerly the home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother until her death in 2002. Clarence House was also the first home of the Queen and Prince Philip, where they raised Prince Charles and Princess Anne until the Queen's accession to the throne in 1952.

     Back then, royal christening's were still formal events in which men wore morning dress (waistcoat, coattails, stripped trousers) and smiles were hard to come by in the official photographs. Yesterday's photograph's shows a less stuffy, more relaxed and informal royal family in which the men wear simple suits and smiles are all-around. They show them as being more low-key, natural, and dare I say, ordinary. The Windsor's also seem comfortable in the presence of their "commoner" in-laws. Indeed, Kate's brother James appears as though he could be a Windsor himself, bearing a striking resemblance to King George V (see photo below) with his new beard. Prince George himself appeared to be contented, and in at least one photograph, happy. The only missing element is Diana, who likely would have loved the relaxed nature of the christening and the portraits, in comparison the relatively overwhelming events of the christenings of Prince William and Prince Harry. 

     Aside from the informal formalities of the day, the new portraits are are great importance by showing the Queen pictured with the next three kings of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as the 15 overseas Commonwealth realms (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, etc.) Such a photograph has not been taken in 114 years, when the reigning queen's great-great grandmother Victoria was the Sovereign of the world's largest empire.

    However, that particular photograph of 1899 is not the portrait against which we ought to compare the royal gathering of 2013. The present-day photograph of utmost importance is that of the 87 year old Queen with Prince Charles – 64, Prince William – 31, and Prince George – 3 months old, which creates a powerful echo with the a similar photograph from the 1894 christening of Prince Edward of York, the future Edward VIII and Duke of Windsor. It is a portrait of Queen Victoria with her great-grandson Prince Edward (in the original christening gown) in her lap, with her son, the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII) and her grandson, the Duke of York (the future George V) standing behind her.

1894: Queen Victoria with Prince Edward of York (Edward VIII) in her lap, and the Duke of York (George V) and the Prince of Wales (Edward VII) standing behind her.

     Not only are these portraits similar in what is plainly seen – the reigning monarch with three generations of heirs, but they are also similar in how they symbolize the monarchy’s basic tenets: continuity, permanence, and stability. The 1894 photograph displays a span of time from 1819, when Queen Victoria was born during the reign of George III, to 1972, when Prince Edward (as Duke of Windsor) passed away – having lived to witness two world wars, his own abdication has king, and astronauts making a giant leap for mankind. Similarly, the 2013 photograph exhibits a long time span, which is still on-going, and may extend into the first decades of the 22^nd Century. It begins with the Queen’s birth in 1926 at around the time of the General Strike in Britain. This current time span has witnessed wars and revolution across the world, as well as massive social, economic, and political transformations at home. During this time, the status of the monarchy has been challenged and questioned, but it has survived through it all. 

     Indeed, it has thrived under the astute helmsmanship of the Queen and her father and grandfather, who have adapted the ancient institution to ever-changing circumstances. They have brought it closer to the people and have made it more relevant and meaningful to the nation by engaging with them through mediums ranging from radio to television to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The Queen in particular has stamped her own style of monarchy by creating the walkabout to meet and greet ordinary people, opening up garden parties to wider selections of society, allowing the palaces to become museums, by traveling further than any previous monarch, and reforming the structure and finances of the royal household. In doing these things, she has made the monarchy more popular during her reign and has laid strong foundations for the future, which is not a small achievement. 

     These photographs in short seamlessly combine the past and future. In one photograph, the Queen looks down on Prince George, probably at ease with knowing that the monarchy is in good shape and that the line of succession is secure. It is hoped that the men and baby in that particular "Four Monarchs" photograph, as well as other members of the royal family both present and future will take this strong inheritance and, in their own way, make it better for future generations - not just for their family, but for the peoples they serve.

     God bless them all.