This picture is a copy of the painting by Sir Francis Grant of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s two eldest children (RCIN 405044). Prince Albert Edward has a rattle in his hand and his sister is holding up a biscuit for which Islay the dog is begging. Islay was Queen Victoria’s favourite Skye terrier. He died on 26 April 1844, having survived a bite from a cat in 1840. The Queen described him as ‘my faithful little companion of more than 5 years ... always with me, & ... a great darling’. The background here is different from the original painting and the children are dressed in costumes taken from a portrait group of the Duchess of Orléans and her children in the style of the artist Mignard (RCIN 404410).