This is one of six portraits first recorded in Kensington Palace in 1818 (RCIN 403916, 404349, 406141, 406152, 406160 & 406782), all inscribed in French with the sitter’s identity in gold capitals (seeming to run behind the head) and apparently in the same script. The works are not of identical dimensions and are of very different quality, nor do their frames match. It would seem that they were brought together by an antiquarian collector (who was presumably French). They probably joined the Royal Collection through Queen Caroline, who also acquired a set of old English Kings and their relations (RCINs 402708, 402740, 403045, 404196, 404740, 404743-5, 404748-9). The group divides into two sets of three: one dealing with the early Bourbon court (RCIN 403916, 404349, 406141) and one (to which this portrait belongs) bringing together Queens from history and from round the world (RCIN 406152, 406160 & 406782). Two of these were in Queen Caroline’s Dressing Room at Kensington Palace in 1818 (RCIN 406160 & 406782) and the other in the Great Drawing Room. Two of the portraits (406152 & 406160) are of the same size and apparently by the same hand.

This is the only portrait in the group of a Black sitter, whose identity is not confirmed; it may depict a male ruler, rather than female, or indeed be an imaginary portrait. The crescent moon shape at the end of the necklace would seem to suggest a Muslim ruler. The sitter is wearing  a turban-like headdress with a linen veil, a richly jewelled red cloak over a green robe with a gold border and a pearl necklace with a pendant.The portrait is inscribed 'VNNE ROYNE DES INDES', which might mean 'Une royne' as is 'A Queen of the Indies' or 'Una, Queen of the Indies'. Unfortunately there is no record of a Queen of this name. It may also refer to 'The Indian Queen', the subject of a 1664 poem by John Dryden and his brother-in-law, Sir Robert  Howard, which was later adapted into a popular opera by Henry Purcell. The painting's description in the Hampton Court inventory of 1861 does not help to clarify the situation: ‘A Black Prince Urme Royne des Judes’.