Photograph of the Royal Horticultural Society's ornamental gardens, South Kensington. On the left of the photograph, an urn stands in the centre of a grassy area. In the background stands a large building. The building, predominantly made of glass, was known as the 'Great Conservatory'. The gardens were built on land leased from the Commissioners of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and were officially opened by the Prince Consort who was accompanied by Prince Albert Edward of Wales, Prince Arthur and the Princesses Alice, Helena and Louise.