Woman says Harry and William ‘came to house five times – and neighbours didn’t notice’

A woman has met Prince Harry and Prince William at her property five times – and says her neighbours didn’t even notice.

Nicky Philipps, 59, has painted Queen Elizabeth II three times as well as a host of other royals and statesmen. The portrait artist was first asked by the National Portrait Gallery to paint a picture of Prince William and Prince Harry together around 14 years ago, a visit before which police inspected Nicky’s studio “as though it was a crime scene”. The portrait of the princes was painted when they were serving in the Household Cavalry. They are seen wearing their military uniforms, while Prince William has a sword in his left hand while they pose conversationally beside each other.

Recalling her first encounter at her studio in South Kensington, Central London, Nicky said of the siblings: “They joshed around like any two brothers. They’d finish each other’s sentences and they’d tease each other. They couldn’t have been easier or nicer, which made it the relaxed piece it is. These two strapping, huge royals were walking in and out of my house in their regalia with their swords and spurs and none of my neighbours had an inkling.” But the portrait has attracted attention for unexpected reasons. “Funnily enough it all blew up last summer with the reopening of the National Portrait Gallery because they’d decided to keep it in the basement where it still is,” Nicky continued.

“A journalist got hold of that and it ended up in The Times that the portrait had been buried because of Harry. The Princess of Wales is the patron of the gallery and she was going to reopen it so you could see why they couldn’t have it on display. The cartoonists would have had a field day. At the end of the day it’s their picture and they can do what they want with it. It’s had its day in the sun. I haven’t taken it personally.” Nicky has painted Queen Elizabeth II on three occasions. The first portrait depicts her standing beside her corgis in the robes of the order of the garter, which she sat in for three sessions while Nicky sketched away “chaotically” at the canvas.

The artist added: “The Royal Mail only wanted her face for the stamp but they’d paid for the full thing and didn’t mind what I did so I went berserk and painted an enormous portrait. It’s now in the throne room in the palace. I think she accepted it because it has her dogs in it. I think she liked that. She was quick to point out they were on her garter robes, though, which she told me was unrealistic because she would never let her dogs on the robes.