Royal portraitist says Harry and William 'came to house five times - and neighbours didn't notice'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A woman who previously painted portraits of Prince Harry and William claims to have welcomed the princes into her property five times and says her neighbours didn't even notice.

Nicky Philipps, 59, was given the honour of painting the late Queen Elizabeth II three times as well as a host of other royals and statesmen.

The portraitist was first approached by the National Portrait Gallery to paint a picture of the two princes together around 14 years ago with the police inspecting Nicky's studio beforehand "as though it was a crime scene".The painting of the Duke and Sussex and the Prince of Wales was done while they were serving in the Household Cavalry, the Mirror reports.In it, they are seen wearing their military uniforms, while Prince William has a sword in his left hand as they pose conversationally beside one another.Recalling her first encounter with the now estranged brothers at her studio in South Kensington, Central London, Nicky said: "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."However, her portrait has recently attracted attention for more unexpected reasons.Nicky explained: "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."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