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Primary sourcePainting1843

The Prince of Wales with a Parrot

Victoria · 1843

A watercolour painted by Queen Victoria herself in 1843 showing her eldest son, the future Edward VII, as a toddler with a pet parrot.

Painted by Victoria herself, this watercolour shows her artistic talent and her role as a mother to the future Edward VII.

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Watercolour of a toddler in a blue dress with red sleeves and sash, white lace collar, holding a yellow and purple ball, standing on a pink floor beside a table with a green parrot perched on it.
Queen Victoria, The Prince of Wales with a Parrot, 1843.

About this source

What it is

A watercolour painted in 1843 by Queen Victoria herself, showing her first son, Albert Edward, as a small child dressed in the skirts customary for young boys at the time, standing with a pet parrot.

Why it matters

Victoria enjoyed painting and drawing her children, and nursery life gave her plenty of subjects. This image shows her as an artist and a mother, and reflects everyday customs of royal child-rearing, such as dressing small boys in skirts.

Look closer

  • What does the clothing on the child tell you about customs for young boys at this time?
  • Why might a queen choose to spend time painting her own children?
  • What does this watercolour suggest about Victoria's skills and interests beyond being a ruler?

This painting is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Queen Victoria on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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