In September 1854 Prince Albert visited the military camp at Boulogne (see RCIN 920050) at the invitation of Napoleon III, ally of the British - along with Turkey and Sardinia - in the Crimean War against Russia. In 1855, Napoleon III and his wife were invited to make a State Visit to England, in part an attempt to persuade the Emperor against carrying out a wish to travel to the Crimea to lead his troops. Queen Victoria received them with her eldest children, ministers and members of her court and Yeomen of the Guard in attendance.

The Emperor and Empress spent three days at Windsor and three at Buckingham Palace in London. Events included a State Dinner held in St George’s Hall at Windsor, the investiture of the Emperor into the Order of the Garter (see RCIN 920054), a trip to the opera in Covent Garden (RCIN 920055), a military review and a visit to the Crystal Palace at Sydenham (RCINs 920231 and 919991).

Several pieces of furniture represented in this watercolour are still in the Royal Collection: the two giltwood side chairs are from a set, RCIN 31831; the low wardrobe is RCIN 28050; the vases nearest the clock on the wardrobe are RCIN 36103.1, and RCIN 36103.2; the central porcelain vase on the mantlepiece is one of a set, RCIN 2360; the green vases flanking the central vase are RCINs 2362, and 2363.