Royals' own set of kings and queens paintings revealed It was in the early 17th century that English gentlemen began to collect sets of portraits of the country's monarchs, which would hang alongside paintings of their own ancestors in special galleries to show their pedigree and loyalty to the crown. Southwell Minister is borrowing an early set, owned by Ripon Cathedral, for its exhibition called Monarchy - Icons and Imagery of Royalty, which will run from May 19th to June 17th. The highlight of the show is a set of 25 pictures painted by the leading enamel artists of the early 19th century, Henry Bone and his son Henry Pierce Bone. Based on famous earlier works, such as the Van Dyck portrait of Charles I and the picture of Elizabeth I kept at Burghley House, each work of art is just a few inches long. They were all bought for £400 by Prince Albert in 1843, to hang in his Dressing Room at Buckingham Palace. A photograph taken in 1864 by his teenage daughter Princess Helena shows the portraits in situ. Since Queen Victoria's days the paintings have remained on the palace's walls, only seen by members of the royal family and visiting dignitaries. But the Royal Collection, custodian of the Queen's priceless works of art, has agreed to loan them to Southwell Minster so that the public can see them for the first time. The Dean of Southwell added: "This year, The Queen has been Supreme Governor of the Church of England for 60 years and Southwell Minster's exhibition celebrates this, complimenting other national events which will focus on her role as Head of State. Through these portraits, which start with Edward III, Southwell Minster explores the developing and changing relationship between church and state and marks Her Majesty's own unique contribution to Christian life. This year is also the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, and the cathedral is also displaying early editions of what remains the Church of England's official prayer book.