Jacomb-Hood recalls in his autobiography that he had received a letter from Laurence Housmen, enclosing a snapshot from the Daily Mirror, saying that his painting of the Levee at St James's Palace, 1913 was so interesting as a composition, that the enclosed photograph of a royal ceremony with their Majesties and others descending the steps of St George's Chapel might also be treated pictorially (With Brush and Pencil, 1925, p 110). The artist then, apparently, obtained a proof of the original photograph and painted a small picture, which was included in the 'Gem Room' of the Royal Academy. A painting entitled 'Ceremony of the Garter, Windsor', possibly this work, was exhibited at the Academy in 1920 (495).
 

A photograph published in the Illustrated London News, No 140, 1912 is very close to the scene depicted by Jacomb-Hood. The elongated format and handling of paint perhaps confirm the photographic origins of the painting and remind us of the work of Walter Sickert, who used photographs as a basis for paintings throughout his career.

A label on the back suggests that the painting was acquired by Queen Mary and later presented to the Royal Collection.