Photograph of Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich (1868-1918), later Nicholas II, and Grand Duke George Alexandrovich (1871-99). The two boys are sitting beside each other with Grand Duke George Alexandrovich to the left.

In the summer of 1873, Maria Feodorovna came to Britain to visit her sister Alexandra, Princess of Wales, accompanied, for the first time, by her husband, Tsesarevich Alexander of Russia, and their young children. They met Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle in June, and later at Osborne House, where they stayed between 29 July and 13 August, and where this photograph was probably taken. The Queen records the children's excitement at Osborne in her Journal: 'Breakfast in the tent, & Bertie's 5 children & little Nicky (Minny's eldest boy) came. They were in tremendous high spirits' (RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ/1873: 29 July).