Levées, or royal receptions, were a regular feature of the reign of King Edward VII, the first taking place on February 12, 1902 at St James's Palace (see RCIN 407149). This painting possibly records the first levée of the reign held at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on 12 May 1903 and depicts the interior of the Throne Room at Holyroodhouse; the King is seated on the throne beneath a canopy looking down on a line of Scots who wait to be presented. Towards the centre, in two diagonal lines, are members of the Royal Company of Archers.

In 1903 the King made his first State Visit to Scotland with the intention of taking up residence as King of Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. However Sir Lionel Cust, charged with preparing the Palace for the King and Queen's arrival, and adapting it to 'modern comfort and luxury', later recalled that the drainage system was condemned before the King's arrival, and they stayed instead at Dalkeith Palace, just outside Edinburgh (Lionel Cust, Some Reminiscences, 1930).

The portraits hung on the far wall, from left to right are: James VI and I by Paul van Somer, (RCIN 401224), Anne of Denmark by Jan van Belcamp (RCIN 403253), Queen Victoria by Sir George Hayter (RCIN 405185), Anne Hyde after Sir Peter Lely (RCIN 403268) and James II after Sir Peter Lely (RCIN 401248).

The rather crude rendition of figures and background, high viewpoint (and the fact that not all of those depicted appear in the Court Circular list of attendee on 12 May) suggest this may be some kind of composite painting, in part derived from photographs. Dickinson & Foster (fl. 1890- 1910), established London print sellers, would have commissioned an artist to paint the picture with a view to producing a print of the event as a commercial venture.