As the 'Black Eagle' approached the 'Queen', guns were fired in salute very close by, and in the painting, both the ship on the right and the left are shown firing salutes. The royal party then boarded the 'Queen' where Queen Victoria inspected the ship. She visited the sailors' quarters and asked to try a tot of rum. The ship on the far left flying the blue ensign and the flag of Admiral of the Blue is probably the 'Formidable'. The 'Queen' is shown in the centre of the painting, broadside to port, with a carved figurehead showing the head of a queen wearing a crown. Immediately in front of the 'Queen' is the 'Black Eagle' and the royal party are visible by the gangway. They are waving to the dignitaries and sightseers who have braved the weather in a flotilla of small ships to see the event. The women wave their handkerchiefs and the men their hats and even in the small boats the men are standing up to wave. The coastline of the Portsmouth is visible in the distance.