Carte-de-visite three quarter photograph of King Alfonso XII of Spain. He is shown seated in an upholstered chair in three quarter view, facing towards the right of the image, with his head turned towards the camera. On the right of the scene is an elaborately carved desk on which rests his hat and a closed book. He is wearing military uniform adorned with gold braiding and fastened with a row of gilt buttons up the front. He is seated with his right leg crossed over his left, and he holds the hilt of his sword in his left hand.  

Alfonso was the eldest son of Queen Isabella II. Officially his father was her husband King Francis, although there is some debate about his biological paternity.

In 1878 Alfonso married his first cousin, Princess Maria de Las Mercedes but she died within six months of the marriage. In 1879 he married Maria Christina of Austria and the couple had two daughters and a son, who acceded to the throne on his birth, after his father's death.