Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) taking her first ride on her second birthday

Photograph of the young Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) seated on a pony via a special seat. A groom stands to the left, holding the pony's bridle. Buckingham Palace can be seen in the background.

Princess Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria (1819-1901) and Prince Albert (1819-61), spent her second birthday at Buckingham Palace. Her mother wrote an account of the day in her journal: 'We went to fetch her from the schoolroom, where she stood with 2 nosegays in her hand, surrounded by her sisters, looking a great little duck in a little pink silk frock, with her little curls so nicely arranged ... Baby was delighted with her toys, running about with a Pussy, she called a rabbit.' Princess Beatrice later had a party with four girls her own age. They 'ran about in the Lower Corridor, after their supper and had great fun together.'