Five Eldest Children of Charles I, by Sir Anthony van Dyck, 1637

The King's children are, left to right: Mary, Princess Royal (1631 - 1660), later Princess of Orange and Countess of Nassau; James (1633 - 1701), later King of England and Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII; Charles (1630 - 1685), later King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland; Elizabeth (1635 - 1650); and Anne (1637 - 1640). Four year old Prince James is still "in skirts".

One of van Dyck's most beautiful works, this painting has thrice entered and twice left the Royal Collection: commissioned by Charles I; confiscated and sold after his execution; recovered by his son, Charles II, by 1660; apparently given to the Countess of Dorchester by Charles I's second son, James II; bought back by George III in 1765.

Mary and James.

Charles.

Elizabeth and Anne.

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