Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Published on 7 September 2022
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our Patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It has been a privilege and an honour for the Royal Academy of Arts to have had such a close and enduring association with The Queen over her long reign.
In 1953, the year of her Coronation, The Queen’s first official engagement was a visit to the Royal Academy with HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. They viewed an exhibition of Dutch paintings and dined at Burlington House with the then President of the Royal Academy, Sir Gerald Kelly, and his wife, Lady Lilian. Sir Gerald and Lady Kelly then attended the Coronation on 2 June 1953 and the Royal Academicians presented Her Majesty with a portfolio of 67 drawings, which are now held in the Royal Collection.
The Royal Academy was created in 1768 by the personal will of King George III, who became our founding Patron, Protector and Supporter, a title of address unique to the Academy. George III took a close interest in the Academy’s work. Major decisions were submitted for his approval, and he signed the Diploma handed to each new Royal Academician. The Queen maintained this practice upon her succession to the throne in 1952. Over the past seven decades Her Majesty sustained this special bond between the Royal Academy and the Crown. Her commitment to the Royal Academy was unwavering.
In 1955 The Queen became the first Sovereign to visit the Royal Academy Schools and inspect the work being created by its students. During the 1960s she made frequent visits to the RA’s annual Summer Exhibition. Other Royal Academy exhibitions she visited over the decades included The Golden Age of Spanish Painting (1976), Royal Treasures of Sweden (1989), Frans Hals (1990), Monet in the 90s (1990) and China: The Three Emperors (2005).
Upon The Queen’s visit to the Royal Academy’s exhibition Leonardo da Vinci: Anatomical Drawings from the Royal Collection in 1977, she was presented with a second portfolio of drawings by the Royal Academicians as a Silver Jubilee gift. The success of this event led to Her Majesty celebrating other major milestones at the Royal Academy. In 2002 The Queen hosted a ‘celebration of the arts’ party at the Academy for her Golden Jubilee, and in 2012 celebrated her Diamond Jubilee at the RA, where she was presented with a third gift of 100 works on paper by the Royal Academicians. In 2016 The Queen attended a celebration at the RA for her ninetieth birthday that included an awards ceremony recognising figures in the visual arts and architecture.
Her Majesty The Queen’s last visit to the Royal Academy took place on 20 March 2018 to mark the redevelopment and the RA’s 250th anniversary. Dr Per Rumberg gave a tour of the exhibition Charles I: King and Collector, co-curated with Royal Collection Trust. It was a joyous and memorable occasion for all the Royal Academy staff and the Royal Academicians who lined the entrance hall of Burlington Gardens.
In June 2022, The Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee and the Royal Academy presented her with a special portfolio of 100 works by Royal Academicians.
Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.
The official Book of Condolence can be found here.
Rebecca Salter, President of the Royal Academy of Arts
Axel Rüger, Secretary and Chief Executive