2-677-676 - Historic England Archive/Heritage Images

The children of Prince Henry of Battenberg and Prince Beatrice, c1896. These grandchildren of Queen Victoria are Prince Alexander (1886-1960), Princess Ena (1887-1969), Prince Leopold (1889-1922) and Prince Maurice (1891-1914). This is probably a mourning photograph, commemorating the death of their father. They are all wearing black and looking at a photograph frame that Alexander is holding, it is most likely a picture of their father. He died of a fever (malaria) whilst serving with the British Army out in West Africa in 1896, aged only 38. Tragically Prince Maurice, seen here aged 4, also died in the army. He was killed in 1914 in the First Battle of Ypres at the start of World War I, aged only 23. Photograph from the Ryde Album, Osborne House, Isle of Wight.