Prince Alfred (later Duke of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha) and Prince Arthur (later Duke of Connaught) were the second and third sons of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Although the royal children often took part in plays and tableaux vivants, which they sometimes presented on special occasions, there seems to be no special significance about the date of this photograph. However, it was taken soon after the visit of the Maharajah Dalip Singh to Osborne in August 1854 so it is possible the costumes were a gift from him.