A KNIGHT OF THE GARTER RETIRES - An original 4 April 1955 press photograph of Winston S. Churchill on his final night as Britain's prime minister, dressed in his Knight of the Garter regalia and standing in the doorway of 10 Downing Street, his wife behind him, as they prepare to welcome Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for dinner, an unprecedented honor.
New York: UNITED PRESS PHOTO, 6 April 1955. Photograph. This photograph captures Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill on 4 April 1955, his final night as Britain’s prime minister, standing in the doorway of 10 Downing Street, his wife behind him, preparing to welcome Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip for dinner. The composition is compelling, Churchill pictured full length, his garter signifying his status as a Knight of the Garter prominent on his upper left calf (an honor bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II two years before), a complicated half smile on his face that does not quite make it to his eyes, which look down as if into the short distance yet before him or the long distance already traveled. Clementine, hands clasped before her, is captured in full length profile, wearing a broader smile.
The gelatin silver print on glossy photo paper measures 9 x 7.125 inches. Condition is very good, the paper complete, the image clear, light wear and a bit of red ink substantially confined to the white border margins. The verso features extensive provenance. An ink stamp attributes the photo to “UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATIONS” of New York, with a request to “PLEASE CREDIT ‘UNITED PRESS PHOTO’”. The original printed caption, tipped onto the verso, designates this photo as “PLA 040612…. NEW YORK BUREAU” and is titled “A KNIGHT OF THE GARTER RETIRES”. The full caption reads: “LONDON: Formally dressed for a dinner party which they gave for Queen Elizabeth, Sir Winston and Lady Churchill reward the waiting crowd in front of Number 10 Downing Street with this glimpse through the front door. Sir Winston wears his full court dress, with knee breeches and Garter sash and Garter emblems at waist and knee. The social event occurred April 4th – the eve of Churchill’s resignation as Prime Minister. CREDIT (United Press Photo) 4/6/55 (3AK) NX 4X CAN”. Additional pencil notation beneath the caption reads “Smith – M – L 1955 ©”, possibly indicating the photographer. Separate pencil notation “File – Portraits” – indicates where this photograph was archived.
Churchill was 80 years old when he resigned as Prime Minister on 5 April 1955. His Parliamentary career spanned more than half a century, during every decade of which Churchill had held Cabinet office, including two premierships spanning more than eight and a half years at 10 Downing Street.
The night before, when this image was captured, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip paid him the unprecedented honor of dining with him at 10 Downing Street on his final night as Prime Minister. After dinner, he addressed the Queen: "Your Royal Highness... I was a Cavalry Subaltern in the Reign of Your Majesty's Great-great-Grandmother, Queen Victoria.... Never have the august duties which fall upon the British Monarchy been discharged with more devotion than in the brilliant opening of Your Majesty's reign. We thank God... and vow ourselves anew to the sacred causes and wise and kindly way of life of which Your Majesty is the young, gleaming champion." Raising his glass, Churchill led his guests in toasting "The Queen." After the toast, guests departed and the Queen was escorted to her car by Churchill and his wife.
After the Queen left, Jock Colville, Churchill's Private Secretary, recorded that Churchill "sat on his bed, still wearing his Garter, Order of Merit and knee-breeches. For several minutes he did not speak... Then suddenly he... said with vehemence: ‘I don't believe that Anthony [Eden, Churchill’s successor as prime minister] can do it.’" He was right. But perhaps he was also voicing the sentiment of his secretary, Elizabeth Gilliatt: “I had wished he could die in office.” At noon the next day, Churchill held the last Cabinet of his career, "almost fifteen years after the first Cabinet of his wartime administration, and almost fifty years since he had first sat in Cabinet." Then Churchill went to Buckingham Palace for his last Audience with the Queen as prime minister and formally resigned.
References: Gilbert, Vol. VIII; Colville, The Fringes of Power. Item #008957
Price: $300.00