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A GOLD, ENAMEL AND GARNET BODICE BROOCH FROM 1830 THAT BELONGED TO QUEEN VICTORIA MADE FOURTEEN TIMES ITS PRE-SALE ESTIMATE AT BONHAMS JEWELRY SALE THAT TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY IN KNIGHTSBRIDGE. WITH A PRE-SALE ESTIMATE OF £600–800, THE BROOCH SOLD FOR £11,400. THE FINELY DETAILED BROOCH IS EMBELLISHED WITH GREEN AND RED ENAMEL, SET WITH CABOCHON GARNETS THAT SUSPEND AN ELONGATED DROP OF A SIMILAR DESIGN. THE BROOCH ORIGINALLY BELONGED TO VICTORIA, DUCHESS OF KENT, WHO ON HER DEATH IN 1861 LEFT HER JEWELRY TO HER DAUGHTER, QUEEN VICTORIA. QUEEN VICTORIA SUBSEQUENTLY GAVE THE BROOCH TO HER THIRD DAUGHTER HELENA, PRINCESS CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, AS A PRESENT ON HER 24th BIRTHDAY IN 1870. THE REVERSE OF THE BROOCH HAS A SIMPLE, YET VERY PERSONAL ENGRAVING: 'BELONGED TO DEAR GRANDMAMMA V. FROM MAMA V.R. TO HELENA 25th MAY 1870'. ALTHOUGH PRINCESS HELENA MARRIED THE GERMAN PRINCE CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN IN 1866, THEY REMAINED IN BRITAIN CLOSE TO THE QUEEN, WHO LIKED TO HAVE HER DAUGHTERS NEARBY. HELENA WAS CONSIDERED THE MOST ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY, CARRYING OUT AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAM OF ROYAL ENGAGEMENTS. SHE WAS ALSO A COMMITTED PATRON OF CHARITIES, AND WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE RED CROSS. SHE WAS ALSO THE ORIGINAL PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF NEEDLEWORK, AND PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL BRITISH NURSES' ASSOCIATION.

BROOCH THE BELONGED TO QUEEN VICTORIA SELLS FOR £11,400

A PREVIOUSLY UNSEEN PORTRAIT OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND PRINCE HARRY BY FERGUS GREER AND A PORTRAIT OF TRACEY EMIN BY DAVID BAILEY WILL FORM PART OF A NEW GALLERY DISPLAY HIGHLIGHTING THE PHOTOGRAPHS RECENTLY ACQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON. EIGHTEEN BY TWELVE: RECENT PHOTOGRAPHIC ACQUISITIONS FROM 7.FEBRUARY IN ROOM 41a WILL SHOW EIGHTEEN PRINTS BY TWELVE CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHERS, ALL ON DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE GALLERY. EVERY YEAR THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY ACQUIRES A DIVERSE SELECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS WHICH OFFER A VISUAL REFLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY BRITISH LIFE AND CULTURE. THE SITTERS IN THIS DISPLAY INCLUDE RECENT PORTRAITS OF POPULAR SCIENTIST BRIAN COX, POET CHRISTOPHER REID, ACTORS BENEDICT CUMBERPATCH, ANDY SERKIS AND MACKENZIE CROOK AND SINGER SONGWRITER K T TUNSTALL. THE DISPLAY WILL ALSO INCLUDE COMEDIENNE CATHERINE TATE, CONTEMPORARY SINGER M I A, POET LAUREATE CAROL ANN DUFFY, NEWSPAPER EXECUTIVE REBEKAH WADE, COMEDIAN RONNIE CORBETT, ARTIST FRANK AUERBACH, AND FILM DIRECTOR TERENCE DAVIES. SEEN IN THE DISPLAY FOR THE FIRST TIME IS AN INFORMAL DOUBLE PORTRAIT OF PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY TAKEN AT THE COMMANDANTS HOUSE AT THE ROYAL MILITARY ACADEMY, SANDHURST. PHOTOGRAPHER FERGUS GREER WAS COMMISSIONED BY CLARENCE HOUSE TO TAKE THE PORTRAIT IN DECEMBER 2006 IN PREPARATION FOR THE CONCERT FOR DIANA IN 2007, BUT THE PHOTOGRAPH WAS NOT PUBLISHED. THE PORTRAIT IS ONLY THE SECOND DOUBLE PORTRAIT OF THE TWO PRINCES TO ENTER THE GALLERY'S COLLECTION, THE FIRST A FORMAL COMMISSIONED PORTRAIT BY ARTIST NICKY PHILLIPS WAS UNVEILED IN 2010. THE PHOTOGRAPHS COLLECTION CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 20,000 ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES DATING FROM THE 1840s TO THE PRESENT DAY. FOUNDED IN 1856, THE AIM OF THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY IS TO COLLECT PORTRAITS OF FAMOUS EN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE AND ARE MAKING BRITISH HISTORY AND CULTURE.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY UNVEILS PORTRAIT OF PRINCES WILLIAM AND HARRY

HRH PRINCE WILLIAM OF WALES AND MISS CATHERINE MIDDLETON HAVE APPROVED THE ROYAL COLLECTION'S RANGE OF CHINA COMMISSIONED TO COMMEMORATE THEIR ROYAL FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE ON 29.APRIL.2011. THE OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING RANGE INCLUDES A TANKARD (£35), EIGHT-INCH PLATE (£40) AND PILL BOX (£25) IN ENGLISH FINE BONE CHINA. EACH PIECE BEARS THE COUPLE'S ENTWINED INITIALS IN GOLD AND SILVER SURMOUNTED BY THE CORONET OF PRINCE WILLIAM AND THE WEDDING DATE. THE RANGE IS DECORATED WITH A PATTERN OF DOVES, WHITE RIBBONS AND HEARTS IN SILVER, GOLD AND GREY, SET AGAINST A PALE-GRAY STRIPED BACKGROUND. INSIDE THE TANKARD ARE ROWS OF TINY HEARTS AND TWO SILVER DOVES HOLDING A GOLD WEDDING RING. THE ROYAL WEDDING CHINA IS HANDMADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE ROYAL COLLECTION IN STOKE-ON-TRENT USING METHODS THAT HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED FOR OVER 250 YEARS. EACH ITEM IS INDIVIDUALLY DECORATED AND THEN EMBELLISHED WITH SEVERAL LAYERS OF BURNISHED GOLD AND PLATINUM BEFORE A FINAL LAYER OF GILDING IN 22 CARAT GOLD IS APPLIED BY HAND. ALL PIECES COME IN A PRESENTATION BOX AND ARE WRAPPED IN WHITE TISSUE-PAPER PRINTED WITH DESIGNS INSPIRED BY THE WALL HANGINGS IN CLARENCE HOUSE. THE OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING COMMEMORATIVE RANGE CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE, AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE ROYAL COLLECTION SHOPS AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE, WINDSOR CASTLE AND THE PALACE OF HOLLYROODHOUSE, AND WILL ALSO BE SOLD AT BALMORAL, HIGHGROVE AND SANDRINGHAM. ALL PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THE ROYAL WEDDING RANGE ARE DEDICATED TO THE ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST, A REGISTERED CHARITY. THE AIMS OF THE TRUST ARE THE CARE AND CONSERVATION OF THE ROYAL COLLECTION AND THE PROMOTION OF PUBLIC ACCESS AND ENJOYMENT THROUGH EXHIBITION, PUBLICATION, LOANS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

OFFICIAL ROYAL WEDDING RANGE FOR PRINCE WILLIAM AND CATHERINE MIDDLETON

A RECORD-BREAKING 413,000 VISITORS PASSED THROUGH THE DOORS OF BUCKINGHAM PALACE DURING THIS YEAR'S SUMMER OPENING. ATTENDANCE WAS THE HIGHEST IN 16 YEARS AND THE SECOND HIGHEST SINCE BUCKINGHAM PALACE FIRST OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1993 (420,000 VISITORS WERE RECORDED IN 1994). TO TOP A VERY SUCCESSFUL YEAR, BUCKINGHAM PALACE WAS AWARDED 'BEST UK ATTRACTION' AT BOTH THE GROUP TRAVEL AWARDS AND THE GROUP LEISURE AWARDS. MANY WHO HAD VISITED BUCKINGHAM PALACE IN PREVIOUS SEASONS RETURNED THIS SUMMER TO SEE THE SPECIAL EXHIBITION, THE QUEEN'S YEAR, WHICH CHARTED THE SPECTACLE AND VARIETY OF THE QUEEN'S WORK. THE PALACE'S NEW GARDEN CAFE PROVED TO BE AN EQUAL DRAW. OVER THE EIGHT WEEKS OF THE SUMMER OPENING, IT SERVED 46,000 CUPS OF TEA; PROFITEROLES AND VANILLA MILLE FEUILLE WERE AMONG VISITORS' FAVORITE TREATS. FURTHERMORE, OWING TO POPULAR DEMAND, THE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED VICTORIA & ALBERT: ART & LOVE EXHIBITION AT THE QUEEN'S GALLERY, BUCKINGHAM PALACE HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL 5.DECEMBER.2010. IT BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 400 WORKS OF ART COLLECTED BY THE ROYAL COUPLE, MANY EXCHANGED AS GIFTS TO MARK SPECIAL OCCASIONS. THANKS TO THE EXHIBITION, ATTENDANCE AT THE QUEEN'S GALLERY HAS RISEN BY 19% THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A RECORDED NUMBER OF FIRST-TIME VISITORS.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE SHOWS RECORD BREAKING SUMMER SEASON

THE QUEEN'S DOLLS' HOUSE AT WINDSOR CASTLE IS THE LARGEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL AND MOST FAMOUS DOLLS' HOUSE IN THE WORLD. IN A CHARMING NEW PUBLICATION, THE WELL-KNOWN BROADCASTER AND ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN LUCINDA LAMBTON GUIDES THE READER ON AN IMAGINATIVE TOUR OF THE MOST MAGICAL OF RESIDENCES, A PERFECT REPLICA IN MINIATURE OF AN ARISTOCRATIC HOME. BUILT FOR QUEEN MARY BY THE LEADING BRITISH ARCHITECT SIR EDWIN LUTYENS BETWEEN 1921 AND 1924, IT INCLUDES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OVER 1,500 OF THE FINEST ARTISTS, CRAFTSMEN AND MANUFACTURERS OF THE EARLY 20th CENTURY. FROM THE LIFE BELOW STAIRS TO THE HIGH-SOCIETY SETTING OF THE SALOON AND DINING ROOM, A LIBRARY BURSTING WITH ORIGINAL WORKS BY THE TOP LITERARY NAMES OF THE DAY, A FULLY STOCKED WINE CELLAR AND A GARDEN CREATED BY GERTRUDE JEKYLL, RUNNING HOT AND COLD WATER AND WORKING LIFTS. THE IDEA FOR A DOLLS' HOUSE CAME FROM PRINCESS MARIE LOUISE, QUEEN VICTORIA'S GRANDDAUGHTER, AS A GIFT TO QUEEN MARY IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF HER STEADFAST PRESENCE THROUGHOUT THE FIRST WORLD WAR. IT QUICKLY ASSUMED A NATIONAL IMPORTANCE AS A FLAGSHIP ENDEAVOR FOR BRITISH INNOVATION AND AS A SYMBOL OF BRITAIN'S POST-WAR RENEWAL. LUTYENS' VISION WAS TO CAPTURE LIFE IN A ROYAL RESIDENCE IN ALL ITS DETAIL, DESIGNING THE HOUSE TO THE IMPERIAL SCALE OF ONE INCH TO ONE FOOT, IT IS 1.52 METRES HIGH, 2.59 METRES DEEP AND WEIGHS 4.5 TONS. LEADING MANUFACTURERS, INDUSTRIALISTS AND ARTISTS, MANY STILL HOUSEHOLD NAMES TODAY, WERE EAGER TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE UNIQUE PROJECT. TO COMPLETE LUTYENS' IMPRESSIVE WINE CELLAR, BERRY BROS OF ST JAMES, LONDON, CONTRIBUTED OVER 1,200 THIMBLEFULS OF THE FINEST CHAMPAGNES, WINES, SPIRITS AND BEERS TO FILL EACH TINY BOTTLE. SOME 200 AUTHORS, INCLUDING RUDYARD KIPLING, THOMAS HARDY AND AA MILNE, PRODUCED ORIGINAL HAND-WRITTEN WORKS FOR THE LIBRARY, SIR ARTHUR DOYLE CREATED A SHERLOCK HOLMES STORY, 'HOW WATSON LEARNED THE TRICK', ESPECIALLY FOR THE DOLLS' HOUSE. ROYAL GUN MAKERS, JAMES PURDEY & SONS, DONATED WORKING REPLICAS OF KING GEORGE V's GUNS, COMPLETE WITH LEATHER CASE AND MAGAZINE OF 100 TINY CARTRIDGES. IN THE GARAGE A DAIMLER LIMOUSINE, ROLLS ROYCE AND A 1923 SILVER GHOST SEVEN-SEATER LIMOUSINE LANDAULET BOAST THE SUPREMACY OF BRITISH MOTOR MANUFACTURING IN THE 1920s. THROUGHOUT THE DOLLS' HOUSE THERE ARE REMINDERS THAT IT IS JUST NOT ANY RESIDENCE. IN THE SALON TWO SILVER-GILT THRONES MEASURING AN INCH HIGH SIT SIDE-BY-SIDE; THE DINING ROOM IS DECORATED WITH SILVER WALL SCONES, MINIATURE REPLICAS OF THOSE AT WINDSOR CASTLE; A COLLECTION OF RED AND GREEN LEATHER DISPATCH BOXES, EACH EMBOSSED WITH THE ROYAL CIPHER AND 'THE KING', ADD ROYAL GRAVITAS TO THE LIBRARY. THE DOMESTIC QUARTERS AND THE ROOMS BELOW STAIRS WERE GIVEN AS MUCH ATTENTION AS THE GRAND ROOMS ABOVE. IN THE KITCHEN, 2,500 TINY SECTIONS OF OAK RECREATE A WOOD-BLOCK FLOOR, A COPPER KETTLE MADE OUT OF A KING GEORGE V PENNY, WITH THE KING'S HEAD ON IT BASE, SITS ON THE STOVE, AND THREE IVORY MICE IN A HUMANE MOUSE TRAP ARE FOREVER UNDER THE GAZE OF A CERAMIC CAT. EVERY DETAIL OF DOMESTIC LIFE IS INCLUDED, FROM LAVATORY PAPER, LUX FLAKES AND SUNLIGHT SOAP, TO A TIN OF COLEMAN'S MUSTARD AND A BOTTLE OF LEA AND PERRINS WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE. IN THE LIVING QUARTERS, CHAMBER POTS CAN BE SEEN UNDER EVERY BED, TROUSER PRESSES AWAIT USE IN THE MEN'S BEDROOMS AND READING MATERIAL IS ON HAND FOR THE SERVANTS. IN A LETTER OF THANKS TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED, QUEEN MARY DESCRIBED THE DOLLS' HOUSE AS 'THE MOST PERFECT PRESENT THAT ANYONE COULD RECEIVE'. THE LETTER IS REPRODUCED IN THE BOOK ALONGSIDE CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE ROYAL ARCHIVES BETWEEN THE QUEEN AND LUTYENS, AND CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS AND MANUFACTURERS. IN 1924 THE DOLLS' HOUSE WENT ON DISPLAY AT WEMBLY PARK AS PART OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE EXHIBITION OF ARTS AND MANUFACTURING, WHERE IT WAS VIEWED BY 1,617,556 PEOPLE. FOR THE FIRST TIME THE PUBLIC WERE ABLE TO SEE INTO THE HEART OF THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD, GAINING AN UNPARALLELED VIEW OF THE INTIMATE ASPECTS OF FAMILY LIFE AND BRINGING THEM CLOSER TO THE ROYAL FAMILY THAN EVER BEFORE. THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE DOLLS' HOUSE WAS PUT ON PERMANENT DISPLAY AT WINDSOR CASTLE, IN A ROOM SPECIALLY DESIGNED BY LUTYENS, WHERE IT REMAINS TO THIS DAY.

NEW BOOK FROM THE ROYAL COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS THE QUEEN'S DOLLS' HOUSE

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL WERE LEFT SPEECHLESS AND IN TEARS BY THE SIGHT, AND SOUND, OF A 'CAT ORGAN'. THEY CAME ACROSS THE UNUSUAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DURING A VISIT TO AN AMBITIOUS ECO-FESTIVAL STAGED IN LONDON BUT WERE UNPREPARED FOR THE LEVELS OF LAUGHTER IT INDUCED. THE PRINCE OFTEN ENJOYS A JOKE WHEN HE MEETS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC BUT WAS LEFT LAUGHING UNCONTROLLABLY BY THE PERFORMANCE BY SOUND SCULPTOR HENRY DAGG. THE MUSICIAN PLAYED FOR THE ROYAL COUPLE AS THEY TOURED CHARLES' 12 DAY ECO-GARDEN PARTY STAGED ON THE GROUNDS OF THREE ADJOINING HISTORIC HOUSES; CLARENCE, LANCASTER AND MARLBOROUGH. AT FIRST DAGG EVOKED LAUGHTER FROM CHARLES AND CAMILLA WITH THE RENDITION OF A NIGHTINGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE PLAYED ON A SAW WITH A BOW. BUT FOR THE ENCORE HE BROUGHT OUT HIS 'CAT ORGAN', CONSISTING OF A ROW OF 16 SQUEAKY TOY CATS, AND PLAYED SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, THE TUNE MADE FAMOUS BY JUDY GARLAND. THE PRINCE WAS LEFT RED-CHEEKED, IN A FIT OF GIGGLES AND WIPING AWAY TEARS AS THE MUSICIAN, DRESSED IN A BOW TIE AND WAISTCOAT, SQUEAKED THE ANIMALS. DAGG WAS UNFAZED ABOUT THE REACTION TO THE SOUND HE DESCRIBED AS A 'CAT-COPHONY' AND SAID: 'IT'S NICE TO MAKE PRINCE CHARLES GIGGLE A BIT.' THE DUCHESS FOUND SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT WHEN PERFORMERS FROM THE HIT BBC SHOW STRICTLY COME DANCING, A FAVORITE WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY, TOOK TO AN UNUSUAL STAGE. CAMILLA SCRE DALLERUP AND IAN WHITE DANCE JIVE ON A SUSTAINABLE DANCE FLOOR WHERE GENERATORS IN THE FLOOR TURNED THEIR MOVEMENTS INTO ELECTRICITY TO POWER LEDs BELOW THEIR FEET. THE DUCHESS, WHO BROKE HER LEFT ANKLE EARLIER THIS YEAR, DECLINED AN OFFER TO DANCE. WAITE SAID: 'I WAS HOPING TO DANCE WITH TWO CAMILLAS BUT SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BECAUSE OF HER ANKLE.' THE COUPLE SPENT AROUND TWO HOURS TOURING THE CARIOUS EXHIBITS AND STALLS AND EVEN FOUND TIME TO TRY A HAND AT SEWING WHEN THEY HELPED TO MAKE BAGS FROM RECYCLED CLOTH. PRINCE CHARLES DONATED CURTAIN MATERIAL FROM HIS LONDON HOME, CLARENCE HOUSE, AND BUCKINGHAM PALACE TO MORSBAGS ORGANIZATION WHICH RUNS THE SCHEME.

PRINCE CHARLES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL ENJOT ECO-FESTIVAL

THE PRINCE OF WALES HAS URGED READERS OF VOGUE TO WEAR MORE RECYCLED CLOTHES AND NATURAL FABRICS TO REDUCE WASTE AND CONSERVE THE WORLD'S RESOURCES. IN AN ARTICLE FOR THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF THE FASHION MAGAZINE, ALSO PUBLISHED ONLINE, HE SPEAKS ABOUT HIS PASSION FOR 'REUSING AND REPAINTING' AND PRAISED THE TREND FOR 'VINTAGE' CLOTHES 'BECAUSE THEY SAVE SCARCE RESOURCES AND AVOID WASTE'. HE CITED WOOL AS AN EXAMPLE OF A NATURAL MATERIAL AND PLEDGED TO CAMPAIGN TO PERSUADE CONSUMERS TO CHOOSE IT OVER 'ARTIFICIAL FIBERS MADE FROM OIL DERIVATIVES'. HE WROTE: 'ON THE WHOLE, THE OLDER SOME THINGS ARE, THE MORE COMFORTABLE AND FAMILIAR THEY BECOME; THEY CAN EVEN ADAPT TO LOOK NEW IN A DIFFERENT CONTEXT. FOR EXAMPLE, SOMEONE HAS BEEN IMAGINATIVE ENOUGH TO MAKE SETS OF CUFF LINKS OUT THE PREVIOUS ENGINE FROM MY 40 YEAR OLD ASTON MARTIN AND TO SELL THEM IN AID OF MY TRUST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. I EVEN HAVE A PAIR OF SHOES MADE FROM THE BALES OF LEATHER SALVAGED FROM AND 18th CENTURY WRECK OFF THE SOUTHWEST OF BRITAIN. THEY ARE TOTALLY INDESTRUCTIBLE AND WILL SEE ME OUT.' THE PRINCE IS FREQUENTLY SEEN IN A WINTER COAT, MODELED ON ONE OWNED BY HIS GREAT UNCLE, KING EDWARD VIII, FOR 23 YEARS. IT WAS MADE FOR HIM BY LES BERGQUIST, A TAILOR AT THE SAVILE ROW FIRM ANDERSON & SHEPPARD. IN THE ARTICLE, THE PRINCE SPOKE OF HIS START INITIATIVE, WHICH HE HAS SET UP TO SHOW THE STEPS THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO 'TREAD MORE LIGHTLY ON OUR PLANET'. WHERE BETTER FOR VOGUE READERS TO START THAN WITH WHAT THEY WEAR?', HE WROTE. 'LEADING DESIGNERS ARE ALREADY PRODUCING CLOTHES THAT ARE APPEALING, GENUINELY DESIRABLE, AND, MOST IMPORTANT, DON'T HARM THE ENVIRONMENT. THOSE WHO DESIGN THESE FINE THINGS AND THOSE WHO WEAR THEM CAN MAKE A HUGE, POSITIVE, AND LONG-LASTING IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT. NOT SO LONG AGO, WEARING OLD OR SECOND HAND CLOTHES TENDED TO BE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO MANY, YET NOW 'VINTAGE' OUTFITS ARE ON THE RED CARPETS ALL OVER THE WORLD', HE ADDED.

PRINCE OF WALES URGES VOGUE READERS TO RECYCLE CLOTHES

SHE HAS SAT FOR MANY AN ARTIST AND HER IMAGE HAS BEEN CAPTURED ON CANVAS COUNTLESS TIMES. BUT RARELY HAS THE QUEEN BEEN CAPTURED IN QUITE SO INFORMAL A POSE. SITTING AS A BEAUTIFULLY-LAID TABLE, READING A PAPER, WITH A FRESH LOAF OF BREAD AND A POT OF MARMALADE IN FRONT OF HER, SHE INDULGES IN A LEISURELY BREAKFAST. WHO, MAY YOU ASK, HAS HAD SUCH INTIMATE ACCESS TO THE MONARCH AT HER BREAKFAST TABLE? HER HUSBAND OF COURSE, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. THE DUKE IS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS APPRECIATION OF THE ARTS, BUT LESS WELL KNOWN IS HIS OWN TALENT FOR APPLYING OILS TO CANVAS. HE PAINTED THE IMAGE, ENTITLED THE QUEEN AT BREAKFAST, WINDSOR CASTLE, BACK IN 1965, AND IT HAS BEEN PART OF HIS PRIVATE COLLECTION EVER SINCE. NOW IT FEATURES AS ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING IMAGES IN A NEW BOOK, THE ROYAL PORTRAIT IMAGE AND IMPACT, TO BE PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL COLLECTIONS. THE PAINTING OFFERS AN INTIMATE GLIMPSE OF THE QUEEN OFF DUTY, A SECOND PLACE SETTING AT HER SIDE PRESUMABLY THE ARTISTS'. THE TABLE IS COVERED WITH A CRISP WHITE TABLECLOTH, THE PLATES, CUPS AND SAUCERS ARE WHITE CHINA. PRINCE PHILIP HIMSELF AGREED TO ALLOW THE ROYAL COLLECTION TO USE THE IMPRESSIONISTIC STUDY IN THE NEW BOOK. AUTHOR JENNIFER SCOTT, ASSISTANT CURATOR OF PAINTINGS AT THE ROYAL COLLECTION, SAID SHE WAS DELIGHTED WHEN SHE CAME ACROSS THE PAINTING AS SHE RESEARCHED THE BOOK. 'I THINK GENERALLY PEOPLE DON'T KNOWN THAT THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH PAINTS, IT'S QUITE A PRIVATE PURSUIT. I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD PAINTING, IT'S GOT A REAL QUALITY TO IT, IT SEEMS SUCH A PRIVATE MOMENT, THE QUEEN SITTING HAVING BREAKFAST, SHE COULD BE ANYBODY.'

PRINCE PHILIP REVEALS TALENT FOR PAINTING

MOHAMED FAYED, THE FORMER OWNER OF HARRODS, HAS RECENTLY DISCLOSED THAT HE BURNED THE ROYAL WARRANTS AFTER THEY WERE REMOVED FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE LONDON DEPARTMENT STORE. THE EGYPTIAN TYCOON, WHO STEPS DOWN AS HONORARY CHAIRMAN OF HARRODS IN NOVEMBER AFTER SELLING THE COMPANY TO THE QATARI ROYAL FAMILY FOR £1.5 BILLION, CLAIMED THAT THE WARRANTS HAD PUT A 'CURSE' ON THE STORE. IN A LETTER TO THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH, HE WROTE: 'I ORDERED THEIR REMOVAL. LATER, I HAD THEM BURNED. THEY WERE A CURSE AND BUSINESS TRIPLED FOLLOWING THEIR REMOVAL.' THE WARRANTS, FROM THE QUEEN; THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH; THE LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH, THE QUEEN MOTHER; AND THE PRINCE OF WALES, WERE TAKEN DOWN IN 2000. THEY HAD BEEN DISPLAYED SINCE THE LATE QUEEN MOTHER FIRST GAVE HER APPROVAL IN 1938. THE DUKE HAD WRITTEN TO THE BUSINESSMAN FIVE MONTHS EARLIER TO INFORM HIM THAT HE WOULD NOT BE RENEWING HIS WARRANT AFTER 40 YEARS BECAUSE HE NO LONGER PATRONIZED THE KNIGHTSBRIDGE SHOP. HE HAD BEEN ACCUSED BY FAYED IN COURT OF MASTERMINDING THE DEATHS OF THE TYCOON'S SON DODI AND DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES, IN A CAR CRASH IN 1997. IN HIS LETTER, FAYED, ALSO CALLS FOR THE STORE'S NEW OWNERS, WHO ENJOY CLOSE LINKS TO THE BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY, TO RETAIN THE TWO MEMORIALS THAT HE ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF HIS SON AND THE LATE PRINCESS. ACCORDING TO SEVERAL NEWS SOURCES THE QATARIS ARE CONSIDERING THEIR REMOVAL. 'UNLESS AND UNTIL THIS COUNTRY GIVES THE PRINCESS THE THANKS AND DEVOTION SHE DESERVES IN THE FORM OF FITTING PUBLIC MEMORIAL, THIS STATUE, INNOCENT VICTIMS, SHOULD REMAIN TO REMIND THE WORLD OF WHAT WAS LOST WHEN TWO YOUNG PEOPLE, ON THE BRINK OF HAPPINESS TOGETHER, WERE KILLED', HE WROTE. THE OUTSPOKEN TYCOON DID NOT SAY WHETHER HE HAD BEEN GIVEN ANY REASSURANCES BY THE QATARIS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE BRONZE STATUE, WHICH WAS ERECTED IN 2005 AND DEPICTS THE PAIR RAISING THEIR HANDS TO A SEAGULL. HE CLAIMS, HOWEVER: 'I BELIEVE THE NEW OWNERS OF HARRODS REGARD IT WITH THE SAME REVERENCE AS THE THOUSANDS WHO VISIT IT EVERY WEEK.' A SECOND MEMORIAL, WHICH WAS UNVEILED IN 1998, CONSISTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PAIR BEHIND A PYRAMID-SHAPED DISPLAY THAT HOLDS A WINE GLASS STILL SMUDGED WITH LIPSTICK FROM THE PRINCESS'S LAST DINNER, AS WELL AS A RING FAYED'S SON PURCHASED FOR HER THE DAY BEFORE THEY DIED DURING A VISIT TO PARIS. HELEN BOWMAN, OF ENGLISH HERITAGE, SAID THAT ALTHOUGH HARRODS WAS IN A LISTED BUILDING, THE MEMORIALS COULD BE LEGALLY REMOVED. SHE SAID: 'THESE ARE TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, AND, AS MUCH, WERE NOT PART OF THE ORIGINAL ASSESSMENT OF THE BUILDING'S ARCHITECTURAL AND HISTORIC MERIT. WE APPRECIATE, HOWEVER, THAT THERE MAY BE AFFECTION FOR THEM.'

MOHAMED FAYED ADMITS TO BURNING ROYAL WARRANTS

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FROM QUEEN VICTORIA TO HER FAVORITE PERSONAL SERVANT, JOHN BROWN, SOLD FOR £23,400 AT BONHAMS SCOTTISH SALE IN EDINBURGH. A SILVER MOUNTED CLARET JUG, ENGRAVED 'V.R. TO J.B/VICTORIA 1872', WHICH REMAINED IN BROWN'S FAMILY UNTIL ACQUIRED BY THE CURRENT OWNER IN THE 1960s, SOLD FOR £14,300. IT HAD BEEN ESTIMATED AT £4,000 – 6,000. A TEAPOT ENGRAVED 'FROM VICTORIA R/CHRISTMAS 1876' AND MONOGRAMMED 'J.B.', WHICH WAS ESTIMATED FOR £5,000 – 7,000, SOLD FOR £9000. TWO VERY PERSONAL TRIBUTES TO BROWN PRODUCED AFTER HIS DEATH IN 1883 ALSO SOLD FOR WELL OVER THEIR ESTIMATES. A PRESENTATION MEMORIAL LOCKET CONTAINING AN ENAMELED PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT OF JOHN BROWN AND A LOCK OF HIS HAIR INSCRIBED ON THE FRONT 'DEAR JOHN/27 MARCH 1883' AND ON THE REVERSE 'FROM V.R.I.' MADE £13,200. A MEMORIAL STICKPIN WITH AN ENAMELED PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT AND THE ENGRAVING 'UNCLE JOHN/27 MARCH/FROM V.R.I.' PRESENTED BY THE QUEEN TO ONE OF BROWN'S NEPHEWS FETCHED £4,560. A GOLD MEMORIAL STICKPIN OF BROWN DESIGNED FOR HER HIGHLAND SERVANTS AND COTTAGERS TO BE WORN ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH, MADE £2,880. AND FINALLY, A PAINTED PORCELAIN PLAQUE OF ONE OF THE QUEEN VICTORIA'S FAVORITE DOGS, FERN, PRESENTED TO BROWN BY HER MAJESTY WAS SOLD FOR £10,560.

QUEEN VICTORIA'S GIFT TO JOHN BROWN SELLS FOR £23,400

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