London Gallery

King George VI with Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret

King George VI with Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret and Queen Mary during a recent visit by Queen Wilhelmina of Holland. Queen Wilhelmina is seen behind the King in the Quadrangle of Buckingham Palace where she presented him with thirty six horses as a goodwill gift from the Dutch Government. Date: 1946

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Bubblepunk

Duke of York - Order of the Equatorial Shave!

The Duke and Duchess of York left London on 6th January 1927 to head to Australia to open the new Parliament Buildings at Canberra They sailed on HMS Renown, a battle-cruiser. On February 2nd 1927, Renown crossed the Equator. The Officers on board refused to accept the Dukes plea that he had crossed on a liner going to Africa and he suffered all of the warship ceremonial! Here, the Giant Razor waits to complete the work of Neptunes distemper brush, after which he will be granted the title of Old Sea Dog! Date: 1927

© Bubblepunk / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection

Lady Eileen Orde

Lady Eileen Orde, nee Wellesley (1887-1952), daughter of the 4th Duke of Wellington and wife of Captain Cuthbert Julian Orde, WW1 pilot, RAC secretary and artist best known for his portraits of Battle of Britain pilots. Eileen herself was a talented artist working on advertisements, wallpaper designs and fabric painting. She appeared in the first photograph to be published in British Vogue and had an affair with Rupert Brooke. Pictured in The Sketch in January 1918 which reports on the birth of her and Cuthberts first child, a daugher Julian (Doonie). Date: 1918

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Bubblepunk