The Art of Play: Princess Margaret with a Doll, 1935

Princess Margaret
Marcus Adams, 1935
The Royal Collection

In December of 1935, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) took their daughters Princesses Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret to the Children’s Studio to be photographed by Marcus Adams. The Princesses wore matching silk dresses trimmed with small flowers and delicate frills.


The two princesses sat for portraits together, and individually. Each was photographed with a favorite toy. Elizabeth chose to be photographed with her cherished plush cat while Margaret chose to have her picture taken with this large doll.

Antique Image of the Day: Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, 20 December 1938

T.R.H. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose
Gilbert Adams, 1938
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Photographer Gilbert Adams (1906-96, the son of the famed photographer Marcus Adams) took this photograph of Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister, Princess Margaret Rose, in 1938 on December 20. Adams processed a cellulose acetate film negative stuck onto glass plate to create the image. 

The photo-portrait was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The girls, photographed from behind, are pictured sitting at the piano in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace. The future Queen’s beloved dog, “Dookie” is by Margaret's feet.

The Art of Play: The Duke and Duchess of York Having a Tea Party with Princess Elizabeth, 1929

The Duke and Duchess of York
with Princess Elizabeth, 1929
Marcus Adams
The Royal Collection

Long before his father died and his pesky brother abdicated, the Duke Of York had no idea that he would become King George VI nor that his eldest daughter, Princess Elizabeth, would one day be Queen Elizabeth II. In the late 1920’s, they really endeavored to be a somewhat normal family along with his wife, Elizabeth, and their second daughter, Margaret.


Caught here in a candid moment at The Children’s Studio, we can see the Duke and Duchess of York enjoying a tea-party with a three-year old Princess Elizabeth and an array of toys. The image was captured by their favorite photographer, Marcus Adams.

Antique Image of the Day: Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, 20 December 1938

T.R.H. Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose
Gilbert Adams, 1938
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Photographer Gilbert Adams (1906-96, the son of the famed photographer Marcus Adams) took this photograph of Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister, Princess Margaret Rose, in 1938 on December 20. Adams processed a cellulose acetate film negative stuck onto glass plate to create the image. 

The photo-portrait was commissioned by Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. The girls, photographed from behind, are pictured sitting at the piano in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace. The future Queen’s beloved dog, “Dookie” is by Margaret's feet.

The Art of Play: Prince William of Gloucester, 1946

Prince William of Gloucester
Marcus Adams, 1946
The Royal Collection

When we think of the Royal Family, we don’t often think of Prince William of Gloucester. The Prince—the son of Henry, the Duke of Gloucester and the grandson of King George V and Mary of Teck—died in a tragic plane accident in 1972.


Despite suffering from a variety of ailments, The Prince was a bright, active child who enjoyed laughter and play. His jubilant spirit was captured in this 1946 photo by Marcus Adams taken at the Children’s Studio. Here, we see Prince William of Gloucester playing with a stuffed toy he borrowed from one of his sisters.

The Art of Play: Princess Margaret with a Doll, 1935

Princess Margaret
Marcus Adams, 1935
The Royal Collection

In December of 1935, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) took their daughters Princesses Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret to the Children’s Studio to be photographed by Marcus Adams. The Princesses wore matching silk dresses trimmed with small flowers and delicate frills.


The two princesses sat for portraits together, and individually. Each was photographed with a favorite toy. Elizabeth chose to be photographed with her cherished plush cat while Margaret chose to have her picture taken with this large doll.

The Art of Play: The Duke and Duchess of York Having a Tea Party with Princess Elizabeth, 1929

The Duke and Duchess of York
with Princess Elizabeth, 1929
Marcus Adams
The Royal Collection

Long before his father died and his pesky brother abdicated, the Duke Of York had no idea that he would become King George VI nor that his eldest daughter, Princess Elizabeth, would one day be Queen Elizabeth II. In the late 1920’s, they really endeavored to be a somewhat normal family along with his wife, Elizabeth, and their second daughter, Margaret.


Caught here in a candid moment at The Children’s Studio, we can see the Duke and Duchess of York enjoying a tea-party with a three-year old Princess Elizabeth and an array of toys. The image was captured by their favorite photographer, Marcus Adams.