Photograph of a scene from a tableau depicting scenes from the life of St Elizabeth that was performed at Balmoral Castle. The players are (from left to right): Princess Beatrice of Battenberg who plays St Elizabeth who holds a basket and looks upwards; Princess Louise of Wales in the role of a Lady-in-Attendance and Prince Henry of Battenberg  who plays Landgraf von Thuringen who, on bended knee, takes a flower from the basket.

Elizabeth was a Hungarian Princess who was a member of the Third Order of St Francis and who died in 1231 aged 24. During her lifetime, she helped care for the sick and poor and built a hospital at Marburg. She was canonized in 1235 by Pope Gregory IX. Queen Victoria wrote in her journal, following the performance of the tableau that 'The tableaux were most successful, and really beautiful, in particular St Elizabeth, Novice, Rebecca & York. We had a small band from Aberdeen, which played well, & appropriate pieces, during, and between the Tableaux.' RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 5th October 1888

A tableau vivant or 'living picture', was a recreation of a painting or scene from history using actors who remained static for a number of minutes. The scenes were usually performed to musical accompaniment and scene changes were marked by the raising a lowering of a curtain. Queen Victoria was a very enthusiastic attendee of tableau performances and she often advised on costume choices and props. Those who performed in tableau at Balmoral were drawn from members of the royal family and royal household.