Prince Albert

Princess Beatrice, later Princess Henry of Battenburg (1857-1944) Signed and dated 1862.

Prince Henry of Battenberg, 'Liko', third son of Prince Alexander of Hesse by his morganatic wife, Princess Julie of Battenburg, married, in 1885, Princess Beatrice, youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Prince Henry made the union acceptable to Queen Victoria by agreeing to live at court, so that Princess Beatrice could continue to act as her mother's companion. He took up appointments as governor and captain general of the Isle of Wight and governor of Carisbrooke Castle but was tempted in 1895 to participate in the Ashanti expedition to West Africa. He died at sea in January 1896 while returning home, from a fever which he had contracted there.

Queen Victoria is sitting in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, surrounded by members of her family. On the mantelpiece is a bronze bust of Prince Albert. Queen Victoria commissioned the painting to commemorate the gathering of her family for the Golden Jubilee, celebrating 50 years of her reign. She had admired the picture Tuxen had painted of the family of the King and Queen of Denmark (RCIN 402341) and wanted a similar record of her own family. The Queen noted that the composition was ‘not to be stiff & according to Etiquette, but prettily grouped’. Tuxen encountered certain difficulties when planning the group – the Princess of Wales, who did not wish to speak German, refused to be placed next to the Crown Prince, and the Duke of Connaught said he would rather be left out altogether than put near the Battenburgs. Some of the sitters gave the artist photographs to work from, but the shapes of some of the female clients had been airbrushed – the Queen said that one such misleading print should be burnt. The finished painting was considered a great success and Queen Victoria noted: ‘The picture is beautiful, the Drawing room admirably painted & the likenesses very good …the grouping & colouring, all, charming’. Signed and dated: L Tuxen 1887.

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) later Princess Henry of Battenburg 1860-70.

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), later Princess Henry of Battenburg - Apr 1865.

A circular Kodak photograph featuring Princess Beatrice of Battenburg (1857-1944), playing the piano in her sitting room at Balmoral, with her sister Princess Louise, the Duchess of Argyll (1848-1939) listening.

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) when Princess Henry of Battenburg.

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), later Princess Henry of Battenburg Signed and dated 1859. @AlmanachGotha

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) Signed and dated 1864.

Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), later Princess Henry of Battenburg Signed and dated 1874. @AlmanachGotha

Full length group portrait with (left to right): Prince Maurice of Battenberg (1891-1914) ; Lord Leopold Mountbatten (1889-1922); Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenburg (1887-1969) and Alexander, Marquess of Cambridge (1886-1960). All link arms and face the viewer. Picture c.1910.