A watercolour showing an investiture ceremony taking place in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria sits enthroned beneath the canopy, with Knights of the Bath on both sides, and officers receiving Companion Crosses. The Prince Consort stands to the left of the Queen. Behind her can be seen the Duchess of Sutherland (1806-68) and the Duchess of Atholl (1814-97), her Ladies-in-waiting.

At this investiture Queen Victoria described in her journal how, 'with the exception of a very few, all were officers having distinguished themselves in the Crimea & for that reason I gave the Companion Crosses, (generally never done) as well as the other grades of the order...Albert, as Gd. Master, fastened each star on, which formerly used only to be given into the person's hands'. Vice-Admiral James Dundas was the first to receive a knighthood.