The scene depicts Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Garden Party in the gardens at Buckingham Palace. The west-front of Buckingham Palace, designed by John Nash appears as a backdrop. Queen Victoria, centre left, with the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), beside her, is receiving two ladies. Notable guests included the Prime Minister, Lord Salisbury; William Gladstone; Sir Frederic Leighton and Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, along with other crowned heads of Europe.

In 1886 the minor painter Frederick Sargent proposed that he should paint, for exhibition and publication, a set of four paintings of state ceremonies. The Queen would not actually forbid the scheme, but she would not give her approval. 'She does not wish in any way to encourage the multiplication of his daubs. Though she cannot say no to his request.' In fact the Queen recorded in her Journal that she sat to him 'for a moment' on 12 December 1884. However, this brief sitting is probably too early to be connected with this painting and was possibly for a miniature.

The Royal Collection also holds 'The Court of Queen Victoria', 1885 (RCIN 406548) and although Sargent did not achieve his ambition of painting a series of state occasions, he painted a number of large-scale interiors for other institutions. For example: 'The Interior of Manchester Royal Exchange, 1877 (Manchester City Galleries) and The House of Commons, 1882 (Government Art Collection). Sadly, he died penniless and in debt. Ten year later the Danish artist, Laurits Tuxen (1853-1927) received an official commission to paint the garden party to celebrate Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee in 1897 (RCIN 405286).

A print after the painting, published by the Berlin Photographic Company, is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 751187). For a printed key to the identity of the guests, see RCIN 507302.