Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have stepped back from their senior royal duties, but the couple is still subject to questionable painted portraits, much like those before them.
Harry and Meghan were reimagined as historic former royals in two abstract painted portraits by artists Dan Llywelyn Hall. Hall—who was previously commissioned by Queen Elizabeth herself in 2013 to create her royal portrait—completely deconstructed their likeness and instead opted for their essences to shine through the imagery.
Harry's painting sees him against a teal painted backdrop with dark sunken eyes, full lips, and an orange-red beard. In the painting, he wears what appears to be a beret and an overcoat, and his rosy red cheeks and flaming orange hair dominate the color palette of the painting.
Markle's portrait, meanwhile, sees her as a blue lady—literally. Hall imagines the duchess with periwinkle-blue skin, with light touching her face in pale whites as shadows are depicted with deep brown and black shading. In the painting, Markle also wears a gold headdress with a sheer veil covering her hair and cascading down her back.
Following the reveal of the portraits, the public opinion was divided. On Hall's Instagram, one user asked "Is this supposed to be a joke?" while another added, "Poor Harry...looks like a crayon piece" under Harry's painting. While others appeared to enjoy the paintings ("love this portrait" a fan said under Markle's), the general consensus was confusion. "What is this supposed to be? Art? This work of art certainly does not fall into the category "Artistically Valuable,'" a commenter mused.
It also wouldn't be the first time royal observers were confused by paintings. King Charles's recent portrait also sparked backlash despite Charles and Queen Camilla's stamp of approval. According to the artist Jonathan Yeo, Camilla even said “Yes you’ve got him,” when she saw the completed piece.
As for Hall's inspirations, he thought of the royals who came before them. “In Harry’s case, I have entered the story before he met Meghan–the young party-goer with his future very much in the balance, a bit like the Bonnie Prince [Charles Edward Stuart] I have likened him to," he told The Independent. “I thought putting Meghan in the role of the White Queen, who was a Queen Consort and possibly the most influential ‘outsider’ in royal history, might have a fine irony to it and not necessarily beyond the realms of reality.”
Hall, however, does not appear to be bothered by the backlash that his work has received. “It seemed that these figures caught on the knife edge of public opinion were ideal for drawing comparisons from distant monarchs–like the exiled princes and princesses of the past, that lurk in the background but are still irrevocably tied to the job," he said. “We can’t help ourselves and wonder whatever next?”
The portraits of Harry and Markle will be on view at The Reign exhibit at London's Society of Antiquaries until July 5.