In April 1857, Caldesi was invited to Buckingham Palace to photograph the royal children. This was the first of several successful commissions in 1857, which included a visit to Osborne House in May with his business partner Mattia Montecchi. On 26 May, Caldesi took the well known group portrait of the royal family on the terrace at Osborne, including all nine of Queen Victoria's children. Caldesi fulfilled further royal commissions over the next few years, including portraits of the young Princess Beatrice in 1859.

The portrait was formerly attributed to J. Mayall.