Juel was the favoured portraitist of the Danish Royal family and was appointed court painter in 1780. The artist was known for his sensitive, elegant likenesses and painted many portraits of the siblings and of their family.

This is one of a pair of portraits (404343-4), depicting siblings, Prince Frederick (later Frederick VI) and Princess Louise Augusta, the children of King Christian VII of Denmark and his wife, Caroline Matilda, sister of George III. Presumably a gift for the sitters’ uncle, George III, they are first recorded in the George II Closet at Kensington Palace in 1818, where they are described (correctly in his case) as depicting the King and Queen of Denmark (nos 534-5). A portrait by Juel of their mother, Caroline Matilda, Queen of Denmark, was presented to Queen Victoria in 1687 (RCIN 403924).

Frederick VI was 16 when the portrait was completed in 1784, the same year that he began his rule as Prince Regent. He wears a high-necked white shirt with lace jabot, blue coat with red edging and collar trimmed with wide gold braid; blue sash and star of the Order of the Elephant. His hair is powdered and tied back.