Victoria was eighteen when she succeeded her uncle William IV to the throne on 20 June 1837 and went on to reign until 1901.

He had already shown his skill with crowd scenes at important contemporary events with The Trial of Queen Caroline (1823) and the Reformed House of Commons (1833).

He was later appointed Principal Painter in Ordinary, despite the notional seniority of the Irish artist Sir Martin Archer Shee, the President of the Royal Academy.

[2] The politician and future Prime Minister Lord Aberdeen suggested that the painting should portray the actual moment of crowning, but Victoria rejected this idea as she didn't want to be depicted with her head bowed.

Hayter's work depicts sixty four of those present at the coronation, based on private sittings following the event.