Prince Albert Victor, known to his family as Eddy, was the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. He enrolled in the Navy as a cadet in 1877, and later joined the British Army, but did not undertake any military duties. In December 1891 he was engaged to Princess Mary of Teck, but sadly died of pneumonia, following influenza on 14 January 1892. Mary later married his younger brother, Prince George, who became King George V.

He is depicted in the uniform of a naval cadet, which dates the portrait to c. 1878-80. See RCIN 2584183 for a photograph of Prince Albert Victor and Prince George, at this time.