Charlotte Jones was appointed Miniature Painter to Princess Charlotte of Wales in 1808. After the Princess's death in 1817, Charlotte Jones collected together a series of miniatures that she had painted of the Princess at all stages of her life and mounted them as a memorial to her former patron with the title: The Princess Charlotte, from her Cradle to her Grave. They were lent by Sir Lawrence Jones to the Guelph Exhibition, New Gallery, in 1891, and were later at Christie's, London, 17 December 1945 (lot 16) where they were bought by King George VI.

This miniature is the first in the series and represents the Princess in her cradle. The inscription by Jones gives as the source Cosway's sketch of Princess Charlotte, known through the engraving by Bartolozzi. However, whilst the child's pose is the same, Jones has adapted Cosway's frontal depiction and instead shows the sleeping infant in profile.

Ebony frame with ormolu slip and crown surmount, inscribed in gold paint by the artist: From the original sketch by R. Cosway Esq., R.A., / The Princess Charlotte of Wales, born Jany 7th 1796.