Following the death of her husband, Prince Albert, on 14 December 1861, the queen was to wear mourning dress for the rest of her life. Despite the solemnity of her clothing, this portrait captures her in a somewhat lighter mood as she gazes at her grandson Prince Maurice of Battenberg (1891–1914). Prince Maurice was the third son of Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg.

Describing the christening of Prince Maurice at Balmoral, the queen wrote in her journal: ‘The service was performed by Dr Lees opened by Hymn sung by a choir from Aberdeen, to accompaniment of harmonium … The dear baby receives the names of Maurice Victor Donald. He is such a fine dark boy.’ The handwriting at the bottom of the photograph is that of Queen Victoria.