Son of a Perthshire laird, Sir Francis Grant was unusual in being largely self-taught. After spending a substantial inheritance on his great passions – hunting to hounds and collecting paintings, Grant decided to turn his considerable talents to professional use. Despite being one of the most sought after society portrait painters of his day and the only Scottish President of the Royal Academy in London, Queen Victoria observed 'He has decidedly much talent but it is the talent of an amateur'. However, Grant did find favour at court and received commissions by the Queen on several occasions during the 1840's.

This is a sketch for a life-size portrait for Christ's Hospital painted as a pendant (pair) to the artist's equestrian portrait of Queen Victoria (RCIN 400589). Both were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1846. After several sittings the Queen recorded that 'the likeness is still not good'. Prince Albert accompanied the Queen at the review at Windsor on 11 June 1845 when she inspected the troops stationed at Windsor, the Regiment of Royal Horse Guards and the 2nd Battalion of Coldstream Guards and which is recorded in her portrait by Grant for Christ's Hospital. The Prince's horse is probably Tajar, an Arab who was acquired in 1844 and had been reared in Mecklenburg by Count Hahn.