An watercolour showing a view of Pentillie Castle from the River Tamar, Cornwall. The river is shown in the foreground, with trees shown on the banks behind. The castle is shown in the background, through a gap in the foliage. Inscribed lower right: Pentilly [sic] Castle Cornwall on the Tamar.

On 19 July 1852, Queen Victoria sailed from Osborne House to Devon with her husband, Prince Albert and some of their children. On 20 July 1852, The Royal Family sailed from Torquay to Plymouth on the Royal Yacht, Victoria and Albert, making a day trip up the River Tamar on the HMS Fairy. The Royal Family stayed in Plymouth Harbour until sailing back to the Isle of Wight on 22 July 1852.