The royal portrait photographers Cecil Beaton and Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Lord Snowdon, played pivotal roles in capturing the elegance and personal nuances of the Royal Family. Their work with Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret has left a lasting impact on the visual narrative of British royalty.

Over the last century, there has been an evolution of royal portrait photography and the relationships between sitter and photographer. In this film, Alessandro Nasini, Curator of Photographs, tells us how and why these relationships created some of the most iconic royal portrait photography, through a special rapport and trust that developed over the decades.