Corden's portrait depicts Ferdinand in uniform wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece and the ribbon and stars of the Orders of Christ, St Benedict of Avis and St James of the Sword. He was the son of Prince Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and first cousin of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. In 1836 he married the Queen of Portugal, whose portrait is also in the Royal Collection (RCIN 403691), and in the following year he was created King Consort. After the death of his wife he acted as regent for two years.

Corden had been sent to Lisbon in 1850 and painted a pair of full-length portraits of the King and Queen but these do not appear to have survived. This head and shoulders portrait may have been cut out of the original full length painting, or may be a copy of the head from the original.