A watercolour showing a view of Cowes Castle, Isle of Wight. The castle is shown from the harbour, with the sea shown in the foreground. The castle is shown to the right, with trees shown behind. Boats are shown on the sea to the left, with two sailing boats shown surrounded by smaller rowing boats. Inscribed lower left: Cowes Castle Aug: 6 - 1859. The 6 August 1859 was the 15th birthday of Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred. In her journal entry of that day, Queen Victoria describes how "We all went at 5 on board the "Fairy" & remained in Cowes harbour to see the Duck Hunt & several boat races".