IF YOU want to see the British royals up close, head to Bendigo for a rare chance to study monarchs in detail.
More than 150 royal paintings, photographs and sculptures are on display at Bendigo Art Gallery.
Tudors to Windsors: British Royal Portraits is a major international exhibition from London's National Portrait Gallery, with many artworks never seen outside England before.
The exhibition traces the history of the British monarchy through the gallery's collection.
It highlights major events in British (and world) history from the 16th century to the present, looking at the ways in which royal portraits were impacted by both the personalities of individual monarchs and wider historical change.
Australian audiences will have an extraordinary opportunity to come face-to-face with the fascinating figures of British royalty spanning five dynasties: the Tudors, Stuarts, Georgians, Victorians and Windsors.
Among the many works on view will be portraits of King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, King George III, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana and Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge.
Bendigo is one of only two destinations invited by the National Portrait Gallery to present the exhibition, along with the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston in the US.
Seymour Rail Heritage Centre and Victorian Goldfields Railway is running special trips to the exhibition.
The train from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station to Bendigo operates on Saturdays to coincide with the exhibition.
It will have several beautifully restored carriages, including two that were used by members of the royal family when touring Victoria.
Tudors to Royals: British Royal Portraits, Bendigo Art Gallery until July 14. Phone (03) 5434-6088, www.bendigoregion.com.au
For rail tickets go to vgr.com.au
