The Queen as Connoisseur
June 26 2015
Video: Reuters
Here's some footage of the Queen being presented with a painting in Germany, by the German president Joachim Gauck. She's there at the moment on a state visit.
The newly commissioned picture (below), by Nicole Leidenfrost, is meant to show the young Queen on horseback, with her father, George VI, holding the reins. But the Queen's remarks show that she was a little uncertain what to make of it; 'that's a strange colour for a horse, isn't it?', and 'is that supposed to be my father?' The German president, sensing that the Queen might not be too impressed with the painting, moved swiftly onto the next gift, saying 'if you don't like it, here is some marzipan'. Yum.
The Queen loves paintings of horses, and she and Prince Philip often buy equestrian pictures. Only time will tell whether this new and rather bizarre gift - in which I suspect the greatest faux pas is that the late king looks like a groom - will take pride of place alongside other equestrian gems from the royal collection. Let's keen an eye on Ebay...
