A carte-de-visite portrait of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII (1841-1910) (right) with Prince Louis of Hesse, later Grand Duke Ludwig IV (1837-92). Prince Louis was engaged to marry the Prince's sister, Princess Alice.

This photograph was taken when the Prince was travelling across Europe in order to meet the royal yacht at Venice, in order to commence his tour of the Middle East. Both princes wear overcoats and hats, and are smoking cigarettes; the Prince of Wales is holding a cane. The Prince later wrote about this occasion in his journal, 'Before luncheon we went through the ordeal of being photographed by Mr Albert and the result was very successful' (11 February 1862).