Sir Thomas Myddelton-Biddulph was one of Queen Victoria's most valued and confidential servants. The son of Robert Biddulph and Charlotte, daughter of Richard Myddelton of Chirk, Robert was Master of the Household, 1857-66; Joint Keeper of the Privy Purse, 1866, Keeper, 1867-78 and Receiver-General of the Duchy of Cornwall. The Queen felt his death to be an irreparable loss: 'an excellent, honest, upright, wonderfully unselfish and disinterested man…Under a somewhat undemonstrative exterior, he was the kindest and most tender-hearted of men.'

This portrait was painted for Queen Victoria, who had asked Sir Thomas in a letter if he would, as a favour, sit to Angeli. Sir Thomas reported in a Memorandum to Queen that he has sat three times to Von Angeli 'who hopes to make a likeness which will be satisfactory to Your Majesty.'

Von Angeli received payment of £157 10s for the portrait. The frame is by Vokins.

Signed and dated: H v Angeli / 1878