King’s Gallery to show off the glamour of the Edwardian age
The King’s Gallery, next to Buckingham Palace, has announced that its main exhibition next year will be its first-ever exhibition devoted to the Edwardian era.
The exhibition, which will open in April 2025, will explore the lives and tastes of two of Britain’s most fashionable royal couples – King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and King George V and Queen Mary – from their family lives and personal collecting to their glittering social circles, global travels and spectacular royal events.
All four figures collected works by the great contemporary artists of the period.
The exhibition wil bring together more than 300 items – almost half on display for the first time – including works from the Royal Collection by many of the period’s most celebrated names, including Carl Fabergé, Frederic Leighton, Edward Burne-Jones, Laurits Tuxen, John Singer Sargent, Olive Edis, Philip de László, William Morris, Oscar Wilde and Edward Elgar.
Examples will include a Cartier crystal pencil case set with diamonds and rubies, on show for the first time, and more than 20 items by the Russian jeweller Fabergé, including a blue enamel cigarette case featuring a diamond-encrusted snake biting its own tail, given to Edward in 1908 by his favourite mistress as a symbol of eternal love.
The exhibition telling their story opens in April 2025.
However, a visitors tip — if you visit the current exhibition about the Italian Renaissance, you can exchange your ticket for an annual pass — and then go back to see the Edwardians exhibition next year for free.
Italian Rennaisance ends on 9th March 2025.
The Edwardians runs from 11th April to 23rd November 2025.
Caveat Emptor – depending on when it opens, but it’s likely that your annual pass would also include the 2025/6 winter exhibition as well — so three for the price of one.
Got this one in the diary for next year. This will be our third exhibition at the Kings gallery and all for the price of one entry. Its a great scheme.
Festive greetings to you Ian and to all the other contributors