Double portrait of princes unveiled

Jan 6 2010

Prince William and Prince Harry have been immortalised in paint in the first double portrait of the royals.

The painting of the brothers, shown in military uniform, was unveiled to the public at London's National Portrait Gallery.

William, 27, and Harry, 25, are depicted "in conversation" wearing the formal dress uniform of the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals during an imagined moment just before they leave Clarence House to take part in the 2008 Trooping the Colour ceremony.

Sandy Nairne, director of the gallery which commissioned the artwork, said the royals had seen the double portrait privately before Christmas and were "very pleased" with the work of artist Nicky Philipps.

Philipps, who spent more than six months painting the royal brothers during five sittings which began in August 2008, said: "I wanted to capture just what was there in front of me to be honest.

"I didn't want any sort of overbearing formality about it because they are still young and William hasn't got to his role yet.

"They are really Army officers and they are brothers."

The second-in-line to the throne is painted in a casual pose leaning against a doorway in Clarence House's library while his younger sibling is seated close by and shown in profile.

Harry has a hint of a smile and has his right hand on his leg and holds a pair of white gloves in the other. His brother looks towards him and holds his sword hilt in his left hand and his military cap and gloves in the other.

At the time of the sittings the 27-year-old royal was an Army officer but is now training to become an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot while Harry is training to become an Army helicopter pilot.