Prince Henry of Prussia, by Georg Koberwein (1820-1876)

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Prince Henry of Prussia (1862-1929) when a Child

Georg Koberwein

After Hills & Saunders (1852-2019)(photographer)

Dated 1867

Oil on canvas

41.0 x 36.0 cm (support, canvas/panel/stretcher external)

Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 403994. Reproduced by kind permission.

Although Princess Victoria's children had been staying with the Queen that winter, this is another of Koberwein's portraits that was based on a photograph, rather than from sittings. [Click on the image to enlarge it. Commentary continues below.]

The Queen had rejoiced over little Henry's birth on 14 August 1862, learning that he was a "strong big boy" and only wishing that Albert was still alive to share her "joy and thankfulness" (journal entry for that day). She expressed her fondness for "dear little Henry who sat as still & was as good as possible" on an outing on 20 November 1865, when the family were visiting. We learn a few years later that the Princess herself thought her son "hoplessly lazy, drole & idle about his lessons ... but such a good-natured boy" qtd. in Pakula 375). Despite his mother's lack of faith in his abilities, the "hopelessly lazy" child would eventually became an admiral in the navy. — Jacqueline Banerjee

Link to Related Material

The Four Eldest Children of Crown Prince and Princess Frederick William of Prussia (Henry is sitting on the rug here)

Bibliography

Pakula, Hannah. An Uncommon Woman: The Empress Frederick, Daughter of Queen Victoria, Wife of the Crown Prince of Prussia, Mother of Kaiser Wilhelm. New York: Touchstone, 1997.

Prince Henry of Prussia (1862-1929) when a Child. Royal Collection Trust . Web. 13 October 2024.

Queen Victoria's Journals.

Created 14 October 2024