King George VI is depicted seated, at three-quarter length, in an armchair, wearing the uniform of the Admiral of the Fleet.

The King was appointed as Admiral of the Fleet on 11 December 1936 and had earlier trained at Dartmouth Royal Naval College. The portrait has hung at Buckingham Palace since it was completed, although it was returned to Birley in 1948, presumably to make a copy.

Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth holds a series of portraits of Admirals of the Fleet painted by Birley, c. 1947 as well as a version of this painting. A copy of this painting by John Leigh-Pemberton (1911-97) is on loan to the Royal Naval College (RCIN 407414).