Through the royal keyhole – Charles’s life in pictures
FROM his Scottish home 530 miles away, Prince Charles yesterday officially opened via videolink London’s new NHS Nightingale Hospital for coronavirus patients.
And as he praised staff at the 4,000-bed facility, the backdrop of his drawing room at Birkhall on Royal Deeside (pictured right) gave the British public a rare glimpse of his private world:
1 On the piano behind Charles is a black-and-white picture of himself as a boy tenderly holding the hand of his sister, Anne, in matching outfits.
2 The piano is clearly not for playing as it is cluttered with family portraits. In pride of place is a familiar shot of Charles and his sons, William and Harry, all in military dress.
3 Next to it is a black-and-white picture, never seen before, of a casually-dressed Charles hugging an unidentified baby. There is speculation that this could be Harry and Meghan’s son Archie.
4 On the other side is a family portrait of Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall with William, Kate and their children from Prince Louis’ 2018 christening. Harry and Meghan are also in attendance.
5 On the lower level of the piano is a pastel drawing of what appears to be the Queen as a baby – not entirely surprising, since Birkhall once belonged to the late Queen Mother and still contains a lot of her possessions.
Also in the scene is a watercolour painting of flowers, a photograph of a woman horse-jumping – possibly Anne or her daughter Zara – and a pot of narcissi.
6 On the table to the prince’s right is a 1970s-style fringed table lamp on a ceramic base. To the side of the lamp is what appears to be an old family portrait of the Queen and Princess Margaret.
7 Next to it is a picture of the Duchess of Cornwall’s beloved late brother, Mark Shand, an adventurer who died tragically in 2014 at the age of just 2.
8 Towards the rear of the table is a childhood picture of the Shand family – Camilla, her siblings and parents. On the wall behind the side table is a series of classic Vanity Fair ‘Spy’ prints.
At the edge of the picture is a Chinese-style vase that is full of lilies and an empty ceramic planter. They chairs are upholstered in – naturally – tartan.
There is also a photograph of Charles and Camilla on their wedding day in 2005 and a picture of a mischievous blond boy – who could be Prince George or one of Camilla’s three grandsons.
Home sweet home – Pages 42-43