The National Portrait Gallery in London will no longer show the portrait of Prince Harry and his older brother, painted when they were in their twenties.
It is a strong symbol that will be taken down from the National Portrait Gallery in Londonindicate our colleagues from Mirror. Thirteen years ago, the British painter Nicky Philipps unveiled the first portrait of Princes Harry and William. The two brothers, who were in their twenties when the painting was painted, posed in cavalry uniforms. They appear relaxed, as if they were talking. According to the artist, questioned on this subject last year by the Sunday Timesthey seemed “charming, quick-witted and great fun” at the time of posing, at the antipodes of their current tumultuous relationship. Sandy Nairne, then director of the museum, said when unveiling the painting that “the first portrait of the princes shows them formally dressed, but posing informally. It is a charming image, which prolongs the tradition of the royal portrait”.
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According to the artist, the pose came naturally : “Harry was perched on the edge of a table, and William was leaning against a pillar, waiting to be told what to do. They were looking at each other, talking and laughing. Harry. It was perfect, so I asked them to stay that way. I didn’t want them looking outside.” What gave un double portrait, fraternal and warm, a far cry from the strained relationship the princes have today. But the work will no longer be exhibited when the gallery reopens on June 22. The building had to close for three years to be renovated. Would it be a new way to dig a ditch between Prince Harry and his family?
The portrait has already left the National Gallery
According to Times, this decision would come from the National Portrait Gallery itself, and not of an order of the royal family of England. Asked by the British daily, a spokesperson for the gallery explained: “Decisions about portraits exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery are made by the gallery’s curatorial team. With over 250,000 portraits in our collection, we can only display a small percentage in our building..” He also explains that the painting has already left the museum to be loaned, like other works: “This portrait of Nicky Philipps was included in a traveling exhibition, ‘From the Tudors to the Windsors’which traveled between 2018 and 2021. The portrait was last exhibited at the gallery between March and August 2018.”