Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia, later Frederick III, German Emperor and King of Prussia, was the only son of Emperor Wilhelm I and was raised in his family's tradition of military service. This carte-de-visite portrait was made by Otto & Fiere, Photographes, at their Paris studio. The recto mount carries the imprint "Otto & Fiere, Phot. Paris" with the word "Déposé," indicating the image was legally registered, and the studio's address on the reverse identifies their premises at 40 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris.

The subject is shown in a bust-length, three-quarter pose wearing a dark Prussian military tunic with white fringed epaulettes at both shoulders and a decorative sash across the chest. A prominent star cross, a campaign medal bar of at least three ribbons, and a second cross medal are pinned to his left breast. He wears a full, bushy beard and carries a composed, direct gaze characteristic of formal royal portraiture of the 1870s.

Frederick III was a war hero during the Second Schleswig War, the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian War before his reign as German Emperor. Tragically, he came to the throne when he was mortally ill with cancer and never had the chance to implement reforms during his ninety-nine-day reign. The medals visible on the portrait reflect his decorated military career across those three conflicts.

The reverse is inscribed in pencil in two hands: "Pr. Frederic Guillaume" (Prince Frederick William) above a second inscription reading "Prince Frederick William." The studio imprint also includes the printed line "Les clichés sont conservés" (the negatives are kept on file).