A trove of previously unseen photographs of the British royal family has been discovered. The images were found in the attic of a photographer named W. Jones in 2011, following his death.
The family of the photographer, who remains a mysterious figure, contacted royal photographer Ian Pelham-Turner. They entrusted the collection of pictures to him. Pelham-Turner then decided to include these historical images in an exhibition of his own work.
The exhibition was held in June 2012 at the restaurant in the Debenhams department store in Harrow. This event was part of the celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The display featured photographs of the royal family from 1933 up to 2012.
The photographs taken by W. Jones specifically show a young Princess Elizabeth in the 1930s and 1940s. These images offered a glimpse into the early life of the future monarch.
More recently, in 2023, a collection of 24 photographs by W. Jones was showcased at the Red Eight Gallery in London. The event was curated by Lady Victoria Hervey. Ten of the images from this collection were slated for auction to raise money for charitable causes. Ian Pelham-Turner was present at the event to provide historical context for the photographs. The collection included images from significant past royal events. One of the intriguing aspects of W. Jones is the suggestion from Pelham-Turner that he may have used his photography as a cover, with the possibility that he was a spy.
