Princess Mary married Viscount Lascelles, later 6th Earl of Harewood, at Westminster Abbey on 28 February 1922.
Frank Owen Salisbury was commissioned to paint the official wedding picture and as such was invited to watch the ceremony from the north side of the presbytery, taking many sketches. As the family proceeded into Edward the Confessor’s chapel to sign the register, a shaft of sunlight filtered through the tracery windows and illuminated Princess Mary as she signed.
Instead of having a replica of the official wedding picture made by Salisbury, Princess Mary and Viscount Lascelles asked the artist to create a finished version of this scene.