This fan was created as a memento of Queen Victoria’s first overseas visit in 1843. From 2nd to 7th September the Queen and Prince Albert were the guests of Louis-Philippe I, King of the French and his wife Marie-Amélie (1782–1866), at the Château d’Eu, their country residence close to Tréport. The British royal party arrived on board the newly completed royal yacht Victoria and Albert, seen here with its central steam funnel, right of centre. Queen Victoria described how Louis-Philippe came to collect them from the yacht in the French royal barge: 'He got out and came up as quickly as possible, and embraced me warmly [...] The landing was a fine sight, which the beauty of the evening, with the setting sun, enhanced. Crowds of people, (all so different from ours), numbers of troops (also so different from our troops), the whole Court, and all the authorities, were assembled on the shore.'

A series of 32 watercolours recording the visit were presented by Louis-Philippe to Queen Victoria at the time of his return visit to Windsor in October 1844. It is likely that this fan was presented to Queen Victoria at the same time.