13 DECEMBER 2001
A new, recently unveiled portrait of Princess Anne portrays her in a refreshingly relaxed and informal mood. The work, which is based on three sittings given by the Princess Royal to artist David Cobley at her Gatcombe Park home, pictures Anne wearing a shirt and trousers and leaning casually against a wall.

“We chatted a lot of the time, swapping stories and laughing quite a lot,” said David, honorary secretary of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. “But when I was struggling with the painting she was sensitive to this and let me get on with it.”

“The Princess Royal was a model sitter,” he added. “I can't speak for the Princess, although she did remark at the end of one sitting that she was surprised at how quickly the time had gone, and that's an indication that at least it wasn't an ordeal for her. I certainly enjoyed myself.”

The portrait, which was unveiled at a dinner at the Inner Temple – the legal governing body, had been commissioned to recognize Anne’s association with the organization as a Royal Bencher of the Inn.

It was the first royal commission for Northampton School of Art-trained David.