Inspiration for The Royally Big Portrait from the National Portrait Gallery
In the lead up to the National Portrait Gallery’s reopening in June, it is partnering with The Royally Big Portrait to share portraits of monarchs from its Collection to help inspire all those taking part!
Check out these pictures of monarchs from the past, which will also feature in the final Royally Big Portrait
King Richard III
King Richard III was only King for two years, from 1483-85, however, he is infamous for supposedly murdering his two nephews – King Edward V of England and Richard of Shrewsbury, Duke of York. The two boys, referred to as ‘The Princes in the Tower’ disappeared just before King Richard III’s Coronation.
King Henry VIII
King Henry VIII is famed for his six wives, the rhyme about how each marriage ended goes: ‘Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived’. He was on the throne from 1509 – 1547.
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I was the daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife Anne Boleyn. Unlike her father, she never married, and so was the last Tudor monarch.
King Charles I
King Charles I loved collecting paintings. At the end of his reign came the English Civil War, as a result of which Charles I was killed and the monarchy was abolished.
King Charles II
King Charles II became King of England, Scotland and Ireland when the monarchy was restored, 11 years after King Charles I was executed. Traditionally, Charles II is thought to be one of the most popular Kings.
Queen Anne
Queen Anne was the last monarch of the House of Stuart. She reigned from 1702 – 1714.
King George III
The reign of King George III from 1760 – 1820 was marked by many wars and military conflicts.
Queen Victoria
The entire period that Queen Victoria was on the throne is known as the Victorian era, from 1837-1901.
King George VI
King George VI ruled from 1936 – 1952, a period that included the Second World War.
Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II is the most recent Queen and the longest reigning British monarch in history. Her nearly 71 years on the throne is the longest verified reign of any female monarch in history.
There are lots more portraits of Queens and Kings in the National Portrait Gallery’s collection!
Learn all about how the monarchs featured on this page are related and connected on the National Portrait Gallery’s Family Tree webpage.
All images © National Portrait Gallery, London
