A watercolour depicting Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and Prince Alfred wearing full Highland dress. Signed in monogram and dated "WCRoss 1847".

The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred were six and three years old, respectively, when they sat for this watercolour. In her journal entries for 6, 8 and 12 November 1847 Queen Victoria recorded watching Sir William Ross sketching her sons in Highland dress. Payment records attest to the Princes' costumes, which consisted of Royal Stewart and Dress Stewart Saxony wool tartan kilts, scarves and belted plaids, having been made by Meyer and Mortimer of 105 George Street, Edinburgh, and 36 Conduit Street, London. This watercolour was lithographed by Thomas Fairland in 1847 (see RCIN 630302).

Sir William Ross was a highly successful miniature painter, appointed Miniature Painter to the Queen in December 1837 and knighted in 1842. Queen Victoria particularly admired Ross's ability to catch a likeness, and commissioned many independent watercolours of her own children (some of which also show them in costume) and the children of her relations. Queen Victoria had this watercolour mounted in one of her portrait albums which contained such drawings and watercolour portraits of her close and wider family. The artworks appear to have been accompanied by handwritten inscriptions. There were probably three of these albums in number, though they were dismantled in the 1930s and the watercolours remounted.