Queen Victoria and Princess Alice with a bust Prince Albert

This memorial photograph to Prince Albert was taken by his son, Prince Alfred, then barely 18 years old. His photograph shows the bust of his father by William Theed at the centre of the composition. Theed's bust was begun a fortnight after Prince Albert's death and completed by the end of January 1862. Flanking the statue are Queen Victoria (1819–1901) and Princess Alice (1843–78). Both are dressed in mourning clothes that contrast sharply with the whiteness of the marble bust. The Queen's gaze is directed towards her husband and has a longing, resigned quality in keeping with her view that it would be only a matter of months before she would be at his side. Princess Alice sits with her arms folded, as if to keep out the chill, and gazes at the camera with a direct expression that immediately captures one's sympathy.