The eighty-year old Duchess of Cambridge is shown with head and shoulders facing half-left. She wears black mourning dress with white lace about her neck clasped by a jewelled diamond and pearl drop brooch, and a black cap edged with white lace. She is seated in a red upholstered wing chair.

This painting is a copy by Blanche West of an original portrait by Von Angeli in the Royal Collection (RCIN 404039). The original was sent up from Windsor to Buckingham Palace on 30 September 1879 in order that West could make a copy of it. On 24 November original and copy were sent down to Windsor. West was paid £49 10s for 'Three copies of portraits' in the last quarter of 1880.