The Emperor and Empress had arrived on a State Visit to Windsor on 16 April 1855. Two days later, in the afternoon, a Chapter of the Order of the Garter was held in the Throne Room in order to invest the Emperor with the insignia of the Garter. In the painting the Queen is putting the ribbon over the Emperor’s shoulder. Behind him stands Prince Albert. Around the table stand the Registrar and Chancellor of the Order, and 11 Knights of the Garter. The Empress Eugénie is seated in the foreground, watching the ceremony, with the Prince of Wales beside her and the Princess Royal behind her chair. In April 1855 the artist had asked to be allowed to witness some of ‘the leading scenes’ at Windsor during the State Visit ‘so as to be able to retain sketches of some of the more striking effects which are sure to present themselves among the incidents of this most interesting & gorgeous spectacle’. Ward had to work on his painting – Queen Victoria went to view it in 1857 and judged it ‘as yet, not good’. Signed: 'E M Ward' and dated. The date was probably originally 1858 and subsequently amended to 1860.