The Queen has commissioned a new portrait to be painted of her, which will celebrate the milestone of her becoming the longest reigning monarch in British history; exceeding the 63 years Queen Victoria sat on the throne.
Portraitist Richard Stone is the man tasked with the job. He is currently painting Her Majesty in traditional robes at Buckingham Palace.
This will not be the first time the 63-year-old has painted members of the Royal Family. The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and Duke of York have all had numerous sittings with Stone in the past.
Speaking of painting Her Majesty, Mr Stone said “It’s an incredible honour to be invited to paint her.”
“I’ve started work and it will be completed later this year. It will be a very large oil painting and The Queen will look very dignified.”
There is added pressure for Mr Stone’s portrait to be exemplary as The Queen has previously told him that she has a dislike to some portraits that are taken of her. She reportedly told him that “one would wish to consign some of them to the basement”.
The portrait will be completed towards the end of the year.
Photo credit: UK Ministry of Defence via photopin cc
Presumably this is independent of the new coin portrait to be revealed shortly.