Queen Camilla celebrated traditional crafts and local artists today as she stepped out in west London to visit an art pop-up store which featured a “lovely” painting of her step-granddaughter, Princess Charlotte.
The Queen, who confessed she visited the “fantastic” Kindred Studios’ Shepherds Bush pop-up hub after the recommendation of her daughter, Laura Lopes, toured the workspaces and met an eclectic mix of painters.
As she toured the art studios, which were previously used as accommodation by a homeless charity, the Queen told one artist: “It was Laura who told me about this, she said it was so fantastic. ‘You’ve got to have a look’.”
But it was a painting of her step-granddaughter that caught the Queen’s attention.
Camilla was captivated by Mercedes Carbonell’s work – who had created her version of a photograph released to mark Charlotte’s second birthday in 2017.
The artist said: “The Queen liked it very much, I think Charlotte looks like Queen Elizabeth in the photograph.”
Later, Camilla reportedly said that the painting was “lovely”.
Among the works on display in the entrance hall were imaginatively quirky pieces by Cordelia Plunket, mother of Camilla’s equerry, Major Ollie Plunket, who serves in the Rifles.
Plunket uses taxidermy to recreate scenes from popular culture, and the Queen marvelled at a recreation of the famous Beatles Abbey Road album cover, with the Fab Four replaced with 12in high figures with bird heads.
“You’ve got Ringo here, and George,” said Camilla as she peered at the work through the glass case.
Another piece replicated artist Tracey Emin’s My Bed, which the Queen recognised, complete with a bird asleep under a miniature duvet and detritus on the floor.
Camilla was also impressed by conservator Piran Harte whose studio was crammed with wooden projects and said: “I can send you a few pieces”.
She was told how he reassembled a late 19th-century Burmese wooden throne, now on display at the British Museum, that arrived in pieces and replied: “That must have been a labour of love.”
It comes as King Charles returned to Sandringham after spending just over 24 hours at his London home, Clarence House.
It is thought Charles visited the capital for his latest bout of cancer treatment following the announcement of his diagnosis last week.
Camilla is expected to remain in London because she is hosting a reception to mark the 100th anniversary of the Poppy Factory on Thursday.
