Photograph of a tableau titled 'St Elizabeth' that was performed at Balmoral Castle on 5th October 1888. The players, all of whom wear medieval costume, include (from left to right): Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), who plays St Elizabeth; Princess Louise of Wales (1867-1931) who plays the Lady in Attendance and Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-96) in the role of Landgraf von Thüringen

St 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, Elizabeth helped care for the sick and poor and built a hospital at Marburg. She was canonized in 1235 by Pope Gregory IX. The tableau concerning St Elizabeth staged scenes that represented moments in the life of the Saint. Following the performances of the tableaux, Queen Victoria recorded in her journal that evening that 'The Tableaux were most successful, & really beautiful, in particular St. Elizabeth'