Victoria and Albert were keen collectors of watercolour views of their homes, which were settings for both domestic and court life. These works offer a glimpse into royal family life, including views of private spaces such as bedrooms and sitting rooms, and family celebrations for birthdays and christenings.

The royal parents were also eager to document their growing family, and they kept sculptors, painters and photographers busy recording the appearances and activities of each of their nine children as they grew. Victoria and Albert kept some of these watercolours in a sequence of family portrait albums.