We could spend hours staring at this final portrait of Prince Philip. However, we had no idea the picture’s location holds a hidden meaning…until now.
Meet Australian artist Ralph Heimans, who is responsible for painting Prince Philip’s last official picture (see below). On a recent episode of the Sky News Daily podcast, he opened up about the significance behind the portrait’s setting, which pays tribute to Prince Philip’s family.
The picture was captured in the grand corridor at Windsor Palace, which is located in the private residence that Prince Philip shared with Queen Elizabeth. Not only does the location offer a rare glimpse at their living quarters, but it also holds a special significance for Prince Philip.
According to Heimans, both his mother (Princess Alice of Battenberg) and grandmother (Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine) were born in a room at the end of the grand passageway. Heimans chose to stage it there because he felt Prince Philip’s life was reflected in that hallway.
The portrait was painted by Heimans in 2017, the same year Prince Philip announced that he was retiring from public service. It shows Prince Philip posing with his arms behind his back. The royal is wearing elegant event attire, including the Order of the Elephant sash (Denmark’s highest-ranking honor).
So subtle, yet so significant.
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