On June 10th, 1801, Napoleon sat in the bedroom of Buckingham Palace, going over photographs he had taken during his recent visit to London. The pictures were in black and white, capturing him at notable landmarks like the Tower of London, Windsor Palace, and St. Paul's Cathedral.
Beside him, there stood an easel displaying portraits of himself in various regal poses.
It had been ten days since the signing of the Treaty of London, which marked the end of the Second War of the Coalition and the restoration of peace in Europe.
Great Britain was still engaged in negotiations with other countries, including Sweden and Denmark. Their attacks on Danish and Swedish harbors, resulting in the destruction of capital ships and towns, had led Sweden and Denmark to demand reparations, putting significant strain on Britain's finances.