William Charles Bell trained as an enamel painter in Geneva before securing his first royal commission in March 1850. From then onwards, he was employed constantly by Queen Victoria for almost 50 years, painting enamel miniatures, often copied after Franz Xaver Winterhalter's oil portraits, for her own collection and for distribution as gifts. His enamels were usually smaller than those by Henry Pierce Bone, William Essex or John Simpson, whose services she had previously employed, and many were set into items of jewellery, particularly Maid of Honour brooches. Queen Victoria's last payment to Bell, in July 1899, was for '6 Miniatures on Gold for Maid of Honour brooches'. Owing to his advanced years, the Queen then gave him no further work but awarded him an annual pension of £20.

The enamel is after a photograph by Ghemar Frères of Brussels dating from 1862, showing Princess Beatrice seated on a chair (RCIN 2941405). The photograph, taken in the year following the Prince Consort's death, shows Princess Beatrice in mourning for her father.

Signed, dated and inscribed on the gilded counter-enamel in black paint by the artist: Princess Beatrice / born 14 April. 1851. [sic] / painted by Bell / 1862.