Queen Victoria with the Princess Royal, the Prince of Wales, Princess Alice, Princess Helena and Prince Alfred

This daguerreotype depicts Queen Victoria with her five eldest children: Princess Victoria (1840–1901), Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (1841–1910), Princess Alice (1843–78), Princess Helena (1846–1923) and Prince Alfred (1844–1900). 

William Edward Kilburn (1818–91), as one of the leading photographers in London at this time, was commissioned to photograph the Royal family on a number of occasions. He made this group portrait of Queen Victoria with her children in January 1852. The Queen found that, when the exposure was made, she had her eyes closed.

In an attempt to remove what she perceived as an unflattering image of herself, she scratched out her face on the plate, while sparing the images of the children. She recorded in her journal: 

‘Went back to the Gardens, where a Daguerreotype by Mr. Kilburn was taken of me & 5 of the children. The day was splendid for it. Mine was unfortunately horrid, but the children’s were pretty’.

Queen Victoria's Journal, RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 17 January 1852 (Princess Beatrice's copies)