Bidspirit 拍卖 | Princess Maud of Wales and

Princess Maud of Wales and Prince Carl of Denmark, Later King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway – Their Wedding Portrait, Autograph-Signed by Both and Dated 22 July 1896 – W. & D. Downey, London - An important royal wedding photograph of Princess Maud of Wales (1869–1938) and her husband Prince Carl of Denmark (1872–1957), who would later become Queen Maud and King Haakon VII of Norway. Photographed by the celebrated royal studio W. & D. Downey, London, the portrait depicts the young couple on their wedding day, 22 July 1896. Maud, youngest daughter of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales – the future King Edward VII – and Alexandra, Princess of Wales – the future Queen Alexandra – is shown in her white wedding gown with long train and veil, standing beside Prince Carl in formal military uniform. Of particular importance, the photograph bears the original autograph signatures of both bride and groom directly upon the photographic image. Maud has prominently signed: “Maud” and beneath her signature has written the date: “July 22. 1896.” At the lower left appears the autograph signature of Prince Carl, who, upon accepting the Norwegian throne in 1905, adopted the regnal name King Haakon VII. The photograph therefore represents the remarkable combination of a royal wedding portrait signed by both a future King and Queen, with the future King signing under his original princely name Carl, nine years before his accession to the Norwegian throne. The lower mount carries the photographer's imprint: “W. & D. DOWNEY – PHOTOGRAPHERS” and: “57 & 61, EBURY STREET, LONDON, S.W.” together with the Royal Arms and copyright notice. Maud and Carl were married at Buckingham Palace on 22 July 1896. Following the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway in 1905, Carl accepted the Norwegian crown as King Haakon VII, with Maud becoming Queen of Norway. Their only son, Prince Alexander, later became King Olav V of Norway. The photograph is presented within a period mount, subsequently affixed to a larger display board. An exceptionally appealing royal autograph and photographic item: the 1896 wedding portrait of the future King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway, autograph-signed by both bride and groom and dated by Maud to their actual wedding day, 22 July 1896, by the celebrated royal photographers W. & D. Downey.