The figure on the righthand side is HRH, the Prince Frederick Augustus, the Duke of York and Albany who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Army from 1798 to 1809. He was obliged to stand down because of a scandal, but was reinstated in 1811 and held this post until 1827. Here, he wears the Order of the Garter on his breast and the uniform itself is likely to represent that of the 1st Foot Guards of which he was a colonel of from 1805 to his death.

The man in blue on the left is dressed as an officer of a British Light Dragoon regiment, note the collection of silver decoration that he wears across his chest. He is likely to be Francis Rawdon, the Major-General Moira. The Earl of Moira commanded a force, that included one squadron of the 14th Light Dragoons, that was sent to Ostend in June 1794, to provide reinforcements for the Duke of York. The Duke was returning through Brabant to Flanders and was nearly surrounded by the superior forces of the French. Arriving with 10,000 troops the Earl of Moira marched across the country and by skilful movements in the face of much danger, and under great hardships, effected a junction with the Duke and extricated him from his perilous position. He was advanced in rank to major-general.

This artwork commemorates Moira’s efforts to the King and his country. It is clear that his actions are being recognised; the Duke of York  presenting him with this sword is an notable honour. Just in front of him a boy, likely to be his mischievous son, tries on his father’s Tarleton helmet. The inclusion of this boy and a women, whom we can assume is Moira’s wife,  illustrates the ceremonial nature of this artwork as this pair would certainly not have been present in reality when Moira and the Duke of York met.