Queen Victoria, Princess Louis of Hesse [Princess Alice] and Princess Louise, Balmoral Castle

This photograph was taken at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. It shows from left to right: Princess Louise (1848–1939), later the Duchess of Argyll seated on the floor, facing three-quarters to the right and holding her mother's hand. Queen Victoria (1819–1901) is seated with her head in left side profile and Princess Alice (1843–78), who became Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine, stands and faces three quarters left.

Behind them and supported on an easel is a painting by George Koberwein made in 1862. This painting is based on Winterhalter’s earlier portrait of Prince Albert painted in 1859. In Koberwein's painting the Prince is shown wearing a dark coat with the star of the Thistle and a shoulder plaid of Stewart tartan. Queen Victoria's holidays in Scotland and Balmoral were inextricably linked with Prince Albert. On his death she re-read her Scottish diaries constantly. They were later published in two private editions from 1865, and a public edition in 1868 which sold out in just three months.