Portrait is the Queen’s cup of tea
Her Majesty points out a missing element to the artist as she unveils new portrait over a video call
THE Queen has accomplished another “world first” of her reign during lockdown: the “virtual unveiling” of her new portrait.
And, despite seeing it for the first time via a video call, it was clear she has not lost her eagle eye.
The Queen joked that a teacup featured in the painting had no tea in it, the artist revealed, as she paid tribute to her “luminous” sitter.
Miriam Escofet, winner of the BP Portrait Award, painted the new portrait of the Queen, commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as a “lasting tribute to Her Majesty’s service” to diplomacy.
The Queen saw the painting for the first time via her computer screen, before speaking to members of staff about their work during the pandemic.
She told staff she was “impressed” with their efforts to repatriate British citizens, their coordination of the global search for a vaccine and rapid mobilisation of resources after the pandemic hit. It is the 13th portrait the
Queen has sat for since 2010, and is to be hung in the new reception of the FCO’s London headquarters when it is completed next year.
Buckingham Palace explained the FCO had wanted to “pay tribute to their long-standing relationship with the Queen, and the contribution Her Majesty has made to UK diplomacy throughout her reign”.
The Queen has visited more than 100 countries at the request of the FCO and hosted 111 state visits, said Sir Simon McDonald, permanent undersecretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs and head of the diplomatic service.
The Queen sat for the painting in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, wearing a blue day dress, a triplestring pearl necklace and drop brooch.
Speaking during the official unveiling, Ms Escofet told the Queen she had hidden a symbol in the painting – the insignia of the FCO – painted on to a tea cup, inspired by the anamorphic distortion technique used by Renaissance painters including Holbein.
“It felt really right to apply it to the tea cup – suddenly this very humble object carries this symbolism representing the FCO and linking the portrait to its destination,” said Ms Escofet.
“I explained this to the Queen and she made this very humorous comment about how there’s no tea in the cup. I said I’m afraid the tea has been sacrificed for the symbolism.”
The painting took seven months, with the final stages completed in lockdown. Ms Escofet was granted two sittings: one at Windsor and the second at Buckingham Palace in February to focus on facial expressions.
She said she had tried to capture her “aura of regalness” while being a “very humane portrait”.
“It’s terrific,” said Sir Simon. “There’s truth and dignity and wisdom in the portrait.”