Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson (1809-1892) was, and remains, one of the most popular English poets. He held the position of Poet Laureate for much of Queen Victoria's reign, from 1850 until his death in 1892.

As Poet Laureate, Tennyson wrote this ode of welcome to mark Princess Alexandra’s arrival in England on 7 March 1863, three days before her wedding. The original illuminations were done by Owen Jones (1809-74), an English architect and designer who was greatly influenced by classical and Islamic art. This copy contains colour lithographs of the original illuminations. The poem was also published in the Times on the day of the wedding.