The Royal Album 1860 c. 1860 - 1880

This Royal Album was crafted in 1860 by Jeremiah Gurney. Its cover is adorned with potent symbols of authority. The Prince of Wales's feathers, centrally placed, immediately speak to dynastic power. This emblem can be traced back to Edward, the Black Prince, in the 14th century, and has since been embraced and reinterpreted across generations of the British monarchy. Note the motto "Ich Dien," meaning "I serve." This phrase, connected to the same Edward, underscores the chivalric code of service and loyalty expected of nobility. How curious that such ideals of service mask the brute realities of sovereign power! Even today, these symbols resonate, evoking a sense of national identity and historical continuity, demonstrating the cyclical and enduring nature of symbols of power through time.