Head and shoulders portrait of King George V (1865-1936), facing slightly to the right, in the peaked cap and naval uniform of Admiral of the Fleet with aiguillettes; cloudy blue sky background. This painting forms a pair with the portrait of the Prince of Wales, later King Edward VIII (1894-1972) in the uniform of a midshipman (dated 1911, RCIN 407302). They both share the same oval format and fresh sky background. A label on the reverse of both paintings records that they were presented to Queen Mary, with part of the money subscribed by the Marys of the Empire as the Coronation gift on June 22, 1911. They were recorded in Her Majesty’s Boudoir at Marlborough House on the Queen’s death in 1952. Letters between Cope and officials at Buckingham Palace reveal that the artist was working on a number of portraits of the King in 1912-13 and numerous sittings by George V are recorded both at Buckingham Palace and at Cope’s studio. On 27 January, 1913 the artist wrote to the Private Secretary, Lord Stamfordham: ‘I have got the following pictures finished – in my studio here. / Three portraits of HM the King 1) For H.M. the Queen 2) A small ½ length for / Dartmouth College 3) A large full-length for the Senior United Service If it would be at all convenient to His Majesty to [cancelled word] express his views or criticisms of these pictures before they leave the studio – one is very large to move – I should be exceedingly grateful, as I am anxious to discuss with His Majesty the picture which I have to paint of him for the Royal Yacht Squadron.’ The portrait of George V in Admiral’s uniform was presented to the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth by the Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII in 1913. It is closely related to a (posthumous?) portrait of Edward VII presented by George V in 1911.