A new exhibition of British royal portraiture has opened in Houston, Texas, bringing together 150 works from the National Portrait Gallery in London. The show, Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits from Holbein to Warhol, includes a holographic portrait of Queen Elizabeth II by Chris Levine, captured during a sitting when the monarch rested between photographs. Curator Louise Stewart notes the image's closed eyes create a sense of vulnerability, highlighting how little we truly know the most photographed person in history.
The exhibition arrives as American fascination with the British monarchy shows no sign of waning. Recent events such as the marriage of Prince Harry to American actress Meghan Markle, and the success of Netflix's The Crown—which recently won two Emmys—have fuelled interest. Even minor royal events, like Princess Eugenie's wedding, attracted significant attention in the US.
James Vaughn, assistant director of British Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, attributes this phenomenon to a decline in trust in American institutions since the Second World War. 'JFK's assassination, Watergate, the Iran-Contra affair—all eroded public faith,' he says. 'The British monarchy offers a hereditary head of state separate from government, untainted by dirty politics.'
Vaughn also points to Americans' appetite for royal scandals, which they forgive as they would a beloved Hollywood celebrity. 'The US is a constantly changing society where celebrity comes and goes, but the monarchy guarantees a lasting celebrity,' he adds. British photographer Jason Bell, who took Prince George's christening photos, says he was surprised by the depth of emotion Americans have for the royals, calling it 'very nice to witness.'
