Naftel, a Guernsey-born artist, had his studio at St Peter Port, where Victoria and Albert disembarked on their fi rst visit to the island in August 1846. He made sketches of their arrival, one of which – very similar to the scene here – was reproduced in the Illustrated London News. The illustration was likely seen by Victoria and Albert, who perhaps then commissioned Naftel to paint this watercolour for their album.