Prince Arthur, the dearest and most precious object to Queen Victoria

On May 1, 1850, Queen Victoria gave birth to her third son and seventh child, whom she named Arthur William Patrick Albert. 

A few weeks later, on a letter dated May 22, 1850, he announced to the President of Bolivia“…We have the satisfaction to acquaint you that The Almighty has been pleased, in His infinite goodness, to grant Us a Prince, who was born at Buckingham Palace at twenty minutes past eight o’clock on the morning of the 1st Instant. The sentiments of friendship which You have constantly expressed towards Us, and the interest which You have manifested on other occasions affecting Our happiness, do not permit Us to doubt that You will receive with pleasure the intelligence of this gratifying event…” 

In July that year, Queen Victoria and her family arrived at Osborne, the family's retreat on the Isle of Wight  In her diary, she wrote: "Little Arthur is a magnificent baby & begins to sit up very nicely." (22 July, 1850). Several years later in a revealing letter to her husband, she wrote of Prince Arthur, "This Child is dear, dearer than any of the others put together, thus after you he is the dearest and most precious object to me on Earth" (McClintock 1945, p.25-6).

This Winterhalter painting, featuring Queen Victoria holding an infant Arthur, was probably painted at  Osborne in July of 1850.