Family portraits from The Prince of Wales's personal art collection are currently on display in the special exhibition Prince & Patron at this year's Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace. Marking the 70th birthday of The Prince of Wales this year, the exhibition brings together over 100 works of art selected by His Royal Highness from both the Royal Collection & his own collection & created by artists supported by three of His Royal Highness's charities – the Royal Drawing School, The Prince's Foundation School of Traditional Arts & Turquoise Mountain.
An oil sketch by Michael Noakes (1933–2018) of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, 1973, was produced as a study for a painting marking the Silver Wedding Anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen & His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh in 1972. The Queen Mother is pictured wearing Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Brooch.
In a specially recorded message for visitors to Buckingham Palace, The Prince says of the portrait of his grandmother, ‘I acquired it from the artist as I felt it brilliantly captured her likeness &, above all, reminds me of the essence of her personality. I admire it often when in residence at Clarence House.’
In 2009, Nicky Philipps (b.1964) was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to paint the first official double portrait of Prince William & Prince Harry. Two preparatory oil sketches in The Prince of Wales's collection show Their Royal Highnesses wearing the regimental dress uniform of the Household Cavalry (the 'Blues & Royals').
The oils usually hang at Highgrove, the private residence of The Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall, & will go on public display for the first time in Prince & Patron.
A previously unseen sketch in pencil on paper by Bryan Organ (b.1935) for the portrait HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, 1983, in the National Portrait Gallery will also be shown at Buckingham Palace. In the finished portrait His Royal Highness is depicted at three-quarter-length, seated against a panelled interior.
Having grown up surrounded by the Royal Collection, The Prince of Wales has enjoyed a life-long passion for art and, as Chairman of The Royal Collection Trust & Patron of several arts charities, has promoted the creation & understanding of art worldwide.
Prince & Patron is part of a visit to the Summer Opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, Open now – 30 September 2018.
Advance tickets and visitor information: www.royalcollection.org.uk T. +44 (0)20 7766 7300.
Text & portraits: Royal Collection Trust/(c) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2018
www.TheBritishMonarchy.co.uk - Promoting the Royal Family Past and Present