This painting is a copy, probably by William Corden II, of the portrait of George, Duke of Cambridge, by Franz Xaver Winterhalter (RCIN 407124).

Prince George was Queen Victoria's cousin and almost exactly the same age as her. He spent his childhood in Hanover, where his father was the governor-general, but in 1830 he was sent to live with William IV and Queen Adelaide in England. In August 1835 he was made a knight of the Order of the Garter (he is wearing the ribbon of the Garter in this portrait) and re-joined his parents in Hanover in 1836. On the accession of Queen Victoria, in June 1837, the Duke of Cambridge returned with his family to England. On the Queen's wedding day, 10 February 1840, George met the beautiful actress and dancer Sarah – usually known as Louisa – Fairbrother (1816–1890), daughter of Robert Fairbrother, a London theatrical printer. They began an affair and had two children before marrying on 8 January 1847. Known as 'Mrs FitzGeorge', Louisa bore the Prince another son on 12 June 1847.

Prince George had a distinguished military career and was extremely popular within the army. He was also a keen sportsman, an excellent after-dinner speaker, and acknowledged by contemporaries to be a kind and considerate man.