Last chance to see Life Through a Royal Lens exhibition at Blenheim Palace this summer

History lovers, royalists, and photography enthusiasts have one month left to see Life Through a Royal Lens, the major photography exhibition currently being showcased at Blenheim Palace. The exhibition, which ends on 27th September 2026, explores the British Royal Family’s enduring relationship with the camera; from the reign of Queen Victoria to the present day.

Over 100 of the most iconic royal photographs can be enjoyed within the Long Library at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, for the exhibition which has been curated by Historic Royal Palaces – the independent charity that cares for Kensington Palace, where the exhibition originated – and is toured by Nomad Exhibitions.

Aileen Peirce, Head of Interpretation and Design at Historic Royal Palaces: “Photography has played a fascinating role in shaping how we see the Royal Family, from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s early adoption of the medium to the social media generation of today. Life Through a Royal Lens reveals that royal photography is about so much more than individual portraits – alongside images of ceremony and tradition, there are intimate and candid moments that offer glimpses of family life, personality and the people behind the crown. There’s a lovely photograph of Princess Elizabeth when she was just three years old, playing among lilies. It was taken by her father, the future King George VI, so it gives us a glimpse of family life through a very personal lens.

“It is wonderful to see visitors respond to these more personal photographs, and I hope that, in the exhibition’s final month, they will leave with a renewed appreciation of how photography has shaped the way we see and relate to the monarchy.”

To coincide with Life Through a Royal Lens, visitors can join daily tours of the State Rooms at 12pm (until 27th September) led by a costumed guide, to give insight into the 300-year history of Blenheim Palace. There’s also the opportunity to see the Green Drawing Room dressed with a regal dining table to mark 130 years since the Prince & Princess of Wales visited Blenheim Palace. The royal theme continues to the Life Below Stairs, an immersive experience which offers a unique glimpse into the 1890s, showcasing the hard work and camaraderie of the Blenheim Palace team as they prepared for a royal visit

To find out more about Life Through a Royal Lens, and to purchase tickets, visit www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/life-through-a-royal-lens/.