George, Prince of Wales, married Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Sterlitz in September 1761. A fortnight later they were crowned at Westminster Abbey and their coronation portraits were commissioned from Allan Ramsay, who had recently succeeded John Shackleton as Principle Painter in Ordinary. Horace Walpole considered Ramsay’s coronation portrait to be superior to previous whole lengths, saying “this has more air, and is painted exactly from the very robes which the king wore at his coronation. The gold stuff and ermine are highly finished; rather too much, for the head does not come out as much as it ought.” It was typical at this time to produce copies of portraits, yet it is recorded that Ramsay’s studio completed 153 pairs, together with twenty-six versions of the king alone.