Photograph by Roger Fenton, 'Royal Children', from the left Princess Alice as 'Spring, the Princess Royal and Prince Arthur as 'Summer', Princess Helena as 'the Spirit Empress', Prince Alfred as 'Autumn', Princess Louise and Prince of Wales as 'Winter' in the Tableaux of the Seaons, Windsor, albumen print, 1856.

Photographic print in monochrome depicting seven children dressed on a set. From the left, a girl in floral wreath and ruffled dress, a boy sleeping and lightly clothed, a girl with flowers in her head and loosed tied dress, a girl in white gown and veil with a crown standing on a plinth, a bou in leopard skin toga holding a goblet, a girl with a hat next to a cauldron and a boy with attached white beard and cloak with artificial snow.

The Royal Photographic Society Collection at the V&A, acquired with the generous assistance of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Art Fund.

The Tableaux of the Seasons was performed at Windsor Castle by the seven eldest children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert to mark their parent's 14th wedding anniversary. The scenes were based on The Seasons by the 18th century poet James Thomson and were photographed by Roger Fenton. Queen Victoria recorded in her journal that: 'The scenery was admirably adapted to each Tableau & appropriate music was played between each. They all looked and did their parts so well…We were all delighted, & the whole, was such a pretty idea'. The photographs were mounted into an album with corresponding watercolours by Carl Haag and were presented to Queen Victoria by Prince Albert on her birthday, 24th May 1854. (Royal Collection)

RPS.5212-2018