The Crown in Vogue

by Robin Muir, Josephine Ross

Vogue 's "special royal salute" to Queen Elizabeth II and the House of Windsor.

" Vogue , like the royal family, has been through many evolutions of its own, and to view Her Majesty's life through the record of our pages is truly a document of history." —Edward Enninful, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue and European Director of Vogue

The Crown in Vogue is an extensively illustrated tribute to the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II and to the British Royal Family from the pages of British Vogue . Four monarchs (crowned and uncrowned); one abdication; one royal investiture; a jewel box of jubilees and many, many royal marriages... British Vogue has borne witness to a century of royal history. The Crown in Vogue is the magazine's "special royal salute" to our longest-serving monarch and her "assured and unwavering" presence in the lives of a nation.

Vogue 's first star photographer, Cecil Beaton, was entranced by the House of Windsor and the admiration was mutual. A younger star photographer, Antony Armstrong Jones, left Vogue to marry the Queen's sister and returned as Lord Snowdon. The Queen's cousin, Vogue 's Lord Lichfield, proved an insightful photographer of royal style along with many of Vogue 's fashion photographers, including Horst, Norman Parkinson, and David Bailey. With visual treasures from Vogue 's unrivaled archive and contributions through the decades from the most perceptive of royal commentators—from Evelyn Waugh to Zadie Smith— The Crown in Vogue is the definitive, authoritative portrait of Queen Elizabeth II's magnificent reign—and of royalty in the modern age.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Fashion, Royalty, Photography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2022

About the author

Robin Muir is a British curator, photographic historian and writer.

He has contributed to British Vogue and curated major exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Yale Centre for British Art in New Haven.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Founded in America in the early 1890’s, Vogue magazine had been a “modest little gazette” with a declining circulation, when in 1909 is was acquired by an ambitious young publisher named Conde Nast and relaunched as an illustrated magazine that would appeal to a much wider audience. Today, Vogue is known as the Bible of Fashion and covers lifestyle that many women aspire to. This book serves as a history of the royal family; Chronicling the Crown from the time of Queen Mary aka May of Teck (Queen Elizabeth II’s grandmother) through to the current adults such as Princes William and Harry and their families.

Photos are in b&w or color and there are little synopses that analyze each photo. There are also essays and other pieces that talk about the photos, Style & Substance of the subject.

Of interest, for their Royal Wedding issue, Princess Marina, who married Prince George, Duke of Kent and George V’s fourth son, in 1934, became the first royal to appear on a Vogue cover.

At the end of this book is a Who’s Who in The Crown in Vogue, which includes thumbnail bios on some of the most famous photographers, fashion gurus, designers, etc. that contributed to the success of this book through their talent and artistry of capturing the perfect photo / illustration.

There is also a Family Tree of the Royal Family with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at the top, coming down through to Prince William’s generation. Plus, his children and Harry’s are included, as well.

At the very end is an Index.

Photos and text were well laid out; this was a joy to look at and read!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

[Kara Kvasnicka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published to coincide with the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth ll’s ascendancy to the throne, the photographs and other illustrations in this coffee table-sized volume are not to be missed by anyone who is fascinated by all things royal. Unfortunately, the commentaries and captions accompanying them don’t always make for riveting reading. But, on the whole, it’s fun to see how all the most prominent members of the House of Windsor have been portrayed within the pages of the British edition of Vogue Magazine over the last century. And, it’s equally entertaining to learn who among them were considered the biggest trendsetters before Princess Diana came along and eclipsed them all.

[carson]

I won't be rating this book because it is mostly a collection of photographs with very limited text featured and I don't feel like it is easy or fair to give it a star rating.

But one of my biggest guilty pleasures is the British royal family. I just think that the whole system is fascinating and I love seeing all the glitz and glamour. So when I happened to see this on the shelf at work at Barnes & Noble one night, I knew it was something I was going to want to look through.

The photographs included are simply stunning. There were several that took my breath away. Some of my favorites were of Princess Margaret. She was so stunning and photogenic. Princess Anne also had some beautiful portraits included.

I also loved that along with the photos, the book would include some side notes of the history of the family and vogue along with the corresponding photographs.

If you love photography or the royal family, this book is a beautiful study in both.

[Cathi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, with wonderful photos and illustrations that go back to the earliest days of Vogue (1890s) up through the present (well, to the time of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's engagement). I confess that I can't keep track all of the royal relatives, and even looking at the family tree at the end of the book wasn't much help. It made my brain tired! Too many titles and too much intermarrying! I also didn't read all of the accompanying descriptions going along with each photo. But wow, what great pictures, taken from both the British and the American versions of Vogue.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautiful coffee-table book recounts the history of the English Crown through pictures that appeared over the years in Vogue, whether in the English or American edition. Anyone interested in the English Royal Family should be fascinated.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several photos which I had never seen before = always appreciated! I've never been a reader of Vogue, but this was good coverage of the Royal Family. I felt at times it veered into anti-Monarchy territory, but the overall tone was kind and positive.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, some new photos I hadn't seen plus great to read contemporaneous Vogue articles.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, never before seen pics for almost 100 years.

[Negin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely coffee-table book, with many photos that I hadn’t seen before. The commentaries bored me. I had planned on reading this, but it ended up being more of a book to browse through.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing butt chuck full of pictures, stories, lives

[Carmen Agustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book that chronicled the relationship between the British royal family and Vogue. Loved the photos.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

great coffee table book, nothing more nothing less

[violet wexler · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
it feels wrong to rate this because it was mostly a collection of photos? but it was beautiful and very well done! i got it as such a thoughtful gift and i appreciate it deeply - it is definitely a gift to read.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Crown in Vogue included a dazzling array of glossy photos of the British royal family, both the main players and lesser known Royals who graced the pages of Vogue magazine. It was interesting to see who was featured and for what.

This was a small and detailed coffee table book. It was definitely something I picked up and read a few pages of over a long period. It would be too much to just sit down and read large portions all at once. This was an interesting glimpse into the lives of the British royal family. It was clear to me why some of the members of the British Royal family think so highly of themselves, as their photos and stories would certainly boost their egos. This was a glimpse of these royals in a different way, which was interesting.

[BluMoon Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very beautiful, unbiased view of the royal family through the ages, told in both poetic, journalistic prose and iconic photography.