Princess Marie (1875-1938) was one of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters and niece of the artist, Queen Victoria’s eldest child. The Princess Royal sent the portrait to her mother just before she left England after a visit, and explained in a letter: ‘I send you the sketch of “Missy” most unsatisfactory as it is! It does not do the lovely Child justice in any way – & I am afraid I have not got the likeness! The painting is very rough, and to make it presentable I ought to have had 3 more sittings, but you know how great the hurry was … Besides the light in my round drawing room was very bad for painting – out of doors wd. have been so much better but the weather prevented that, so I must beg you to accept this, until I can do a better one some day!’ Signed and dated: Victoria / Sept. 1881.