Portrait aids award scheme

COPIES of a portrait that earned Prince Philip’s seal of approval are due to be auctioned on what would have been his 100th birthday.

One hundred prints of the oil painting, right, will go under the hammer on June 10 to raise funds for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.

The original image was painted by the artist Gail Graham in 2012 and the Queen’s husband saw it when it was hanging at

Windsor Castle stables before it was bought by a London property entrepreneur.

Ms Graham told The Mail on Sunday: ‘When Philip saw the painting, he looked at me and said with a twinkle in his eye, “Did you do this?” He seemed so pleased.’

Ruth Marvel, CEO of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said the auction was a ‘wonderful way’ to commemorate Prince Philip and ‘the amazing impact he had on the lives of millions of young people’.