Princess Alice, Prince Alfred and Princess Helena

Glass plate negative of a watercolour created by Franz Xaver Winterhalter in 1847 (RCIN 913332). The watercolour depicts Prince Alfred, later Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (1844-1900) seated beside his elder sister Princess Alice, later Grand Duchess of Hesse & by Rhine (1843-78). The princess supports the baby Princess Helena, later consort of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1846-1923) who holds a rattle. The work was commissioned by Prince Albert, and given by him to Queen Victoria on their wedding anniversary, 10 February 1847.

The glass plate negative has been photographed showing the coated side and therefore the image appears laterally reversed. A print from this negative do not seem to exist in the Collection.