Antique Image of the Day: Princess Alexandra and her Grandchildren, 1897

Photograph of Alexandra, Princess of Wales
(later Queen Alexandra) with her grandchildren.
Frame by Fabergé, 1897
The Royal Collection

Alexandra, Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra, consort of King Edward VII) was known in public as a charming, dignified and sympathetic woman. Her love for her country was great as was her love of the people of England. Despite crippling illness, increasing deafness, much tragedy and a philandering husband, she made frequent visits around England. She spent a good amount of time bringing cheer to those who suffered from illness and was often seen quietly visiting hospitals. On one of those visits, she met Joseph Merrick (not “John” as many people think) who is more commonly known as “The Elephant Man.”


In private, Alexandra was a doting mother and grandmother who loved evenings at home with her children and her dogs. She was considered to be jolly and easy-going as well as fiercely protective of her family.

This 1897 photograph of Alexandra, taken just four years before she ascended as Queen Consort, shows her affection for her grandchildren. Seen here cuddling two of her grandchildren, Lady Alexandra and Maud Duff—the daughters of her daughter, Princess Louise (Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife) and the 6th Earl Fife.

Of note is the frame which is another example of Alexandra’s love of Fabergé. The frame of gold, silver-gilt, guilloché enamel, diamond, mother-of-pearl takes a neo-gothic form which shows a stylistic transition from the ideals of late Victorian design to the soon-to-come sensibilities of the Edwardian.

The Home Beautiful: The Cradle of Princess Louise

Cradle for Princess Louise
William Gibbs Rogers, 1850
The Royal Collection
via The Royal Collection Trust
Image Courtesy of
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In 1848, Queen Victoria commissioned a cradle for the infant Princess Louise. She selected William Gibbs Rogers to create the piece. Rogers carved the cradle from boxwood to Queen Victoria’s specifications, designing the piece in the Italian Renaissance style based on images from paintings.


The craftsmanship of the cradle was so fine and precise that, in fact, it took Rogers two years to complete the project. The Queen was thrilled with the result which Rogers signed on the reverse, “W.G. ROGERS FECIT ANNO 1850.” Queen Victoria praised Rogers’ incorporation of the emblems of The Royal Houses of England and Saxe-Coburg as well as the imagery of flowers and plants which were associated with sleep. She wrote in her journal of the piece that it was, “finer than anything of the kind, either antique or modern.”

This cradle can be viewed as part of the Royal Collection.

Antique Image of the Day: Princess Louise and her Dog, 1867

Princess Louise
April, 1867
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

The photography firm of Hills & Saunders is credited with the creation of this April, 1867 image of Princess Louise (1848-1939, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria & Prince Albert).  However, the attribution is not entirely certain and the image could well be the work of another photographer mimicking Hills & Saunders. 

This almost full-length photo shows Princess Louise standing (in near profile), looking down at a terrier.  She holds his front legs, supporting him as he stands on a chair on his hind legs.  Dogs don’t really like to do this.  But, she’s a princess, and I suppose he had no choice.  Besides, he looks quite content.

The Princess wears a long-sleeved dress in quintessential 1860s style.  Her throat is adorned with a jeweled slide (or cross) on a ribbon and handsome jewels hang from her ears.

This is one of a series of photos taken at the same time.  

Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Antique Image of the Day: Princess Alexandra and her Grandchildren, 1897

Photograph of Alexandra, Princess of Wales
(later Queen Alexandra) with her grandchildren.
Frame by Fabergé, 1897
The Royal Collection

Alexandra, Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra, consort of King Edward VII) was known in public as a charming, dignified and sympathetic woman. Her love for her country was great as was her love of the people of England. Despite crippling illness, increasing deafness, much tragedy and a philandering husband, she made frequent visits around England. She spent a good amount of time bringing cheer to those who suffered from illness and was often seen quietly visiting hospitals. On one of those visits, she met Joseph Merrick (not “John” as many people think) who is more commonly known as “The Elephant Man.”


In private, Alexandra was a doting mother and grandmother who loved evenings at home with her children and her dogs. She was considered to be jolly and easy-going as well as fiercely protective of her family.

This 1897 photograph of Alexandra, taken just four years before she ascended as Queen Consort, shows her affection for her grandchildren. Seen here cuddling two of her grandchildren, Lady Alexandra and Maud Duff—the daughters of her daughter, Princess Louise (Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife) and the 6th Earl Fife.

Of note is the frame which is another example of Alexandra’s love of Fabergé. The frame of gold, silver-gilt, guilloché enamel, diamond, mother-of-pearl takes a neo-gothic form which shows a stylistic transition from the ideals of late Victorian design to the soon-to-come sensibilities of the Edwardian.