Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall visit the National Gallery
Date night! Prince Charles and Camilla don matching blue outfits as they celebrate the end of England’s second lockdown with a visit to the National Gallery on its first day of reopening
- Prince Charles, 72, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, made visit to gallery tonight
- Couple visited National Gallery in London to mark the end of second lockdown
- Both donned face coverings at exhibition, which are mandatory in Tier 2 areas
- Comes as it was revealed couple will spend Christmas at Highgrove this year
Prince Charles and Camilla have paid a late night visit to the National Gallery in London on the first day of its reopening after the second Covid-19 lockdown in England.
The Prince of Wales, 72, and the Duchess of Cornwall, 73, donned face coverings as they visited the London landmark for a viewing this evening.
The heir to the throne is patron of the National Gallery and he toured two exhibitions with his wife, the first showcasing the work of 17th century Italian female painter Artemisia Gentileschi and the second paintings by Titian, the Italian Renaissance old master.
The couple’s first official public engagement since the second lockdown in England showed their support for tourism and the art institution during the pandemic crisis.
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Prince Charles and Camilla (pictured) have paid a late night visit to the National Gallery in London on the first day of its reopening after the second Covid-19 lockdown in England
The Prince of Wales, 72, and the Duchess of Cornwall (pictured together with National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi, right), 73, donned face coverings as they visited the London landmark for a viewing this evening
The heir to the throne (pictured left) is patron of the National Gallery and he toured two exhibitions with his wife, the first showcasing the work of 17th century Italian female painter Artemisia Gentileschi and the second paintings by Titian, the Italian Renaissance old master
The couple were greeted by the National Gallery’s director, Dr Gabriele Finaldi, when they arrived and were then taken on a tour of the two exhibitions.
The Gentileschi exhibition featured the gallery’s recent acquisition by the artist, Self Portrait as Saint Catherine of Alexandria.
They were also guided around the Titian exhibition which has seen the institution bring together the old master’s epic series of large-scale mythological paintings, known as the Poesie.
The paintings depict stories from Classical mythology, primarily drawn from the Roman poet Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
Camilla opted for a bright blue dress for the occasion, while Prince Charles wore a matching smart royal blue suit.
The couple’s first official public engagement since the second lockdown in England showed their support for tourism and the art institution during the pandemic crisis. Pictured, Prince Charles
The couple were greeted by the National Gallery’s director, Dr Gabriele Finaldi, when they arrived and were then taken on a tour of the two exhibitions. Pictured, Prince Charles
Dr Finaldi said: ‘The Prince of Wales knew about Artemisia and has seen some of her paintings before. But he was really struck by the sheer power and drama of some of the paintings. He was struck by how extraordinarily involved Artemisia was in her subjects.’
Camilla paused in front of the words ‘I Will Show Your Illustrious Lordship What a Woman Can Do!’ in huge letters in the wall – taken from Artemisia’s letter to a man in 1649.
Letizia Treves, curator, said: ‘The Duchess was really taken by it and seemed struck by the words.’ After the 45-minute tour, Dr Finaldi added: ‘We are really pleased we have opened as soon as we possibly could.
‘It’s all about ensuring the paintings are there for people to enjoy after a difficult year for everyone. We are delighted to welcome our patron the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall for coming ining and confirming how important this repening is for everyone.’
The couple were joined on the tour by Lady Sarah Chatto, the Queen’s niece.
Dr Finaldi said: ‘The Prince of Wales (pictured) knew about Artemisia and has seen some of her paintings before. But he was really struck by the sheer power and drama of some of the paintings’
The Prince of Wales standing alongside the National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi today
Current rules within London, which is a Tier 2 area, mean patrons can visit museums and art galleries in groups of less than six.
Meanwhile venues are also only be able to open with 50 per cent capacity or 1,000 people indoors – whichever is lower. Masks are also mandatory at galleries and museums in Tier 2 areas.
The Duchess visited the National Gallery in July after the landmark had unprecedented 111 days with its doors closed.
It was the first major national art museum to reopen in the UK following lockdown.
At the time, the royal met staff involved in the organisation’s Covid-19 response and reopening process during her visit today.
Camilla opted for a bright blue dress for the occasion, while Prince Charles wore a matching smart royal blue suit (pictured together)
Prince Charles, pictured left, with National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi, pictured together right
Their visit comes as it was announced the royal family will not be having their traditional Christmas this year.
It was revealed yesterday the Queen, 94, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 99, will spend Christmas ‘quietly’ at Windsor Castle and will not form a ‘bubble’ with any other family members.
The Queen and Prince Philip traditionally spend the festive season with close family at Sandringham, in Norfolk.
But this year they will forgo the festivities and remain at Windsor Castle, where they have been isolating with a ‘bubble’ of staff since October.
It is understood the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will not take advantage of the relaxed Covid restrictions to form a Christmas bubble with other households.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be spending Christmas at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. Pictured, the Queen at Windsor Castle last month
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will spend Christmas at Highgrove, in Gloucestershire. Pictured, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on Christmas Day in 2017
It means the couple face spending Christmas Day without any of their four children for the first time since 1949, when the then Princess Elizabeth left a one-year-old Charles in the UK so she could be with Prince Philip in Malta.
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will spend Christmas at Highgrove, in Gloucestershire, although they expect to see the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor at some point over the festive season. Camilla will also spend time with her family.
In Tier 2 regions, like Windsor, up to six people from different households are able to mix outdoors. This means the Queen and Prince Philip could meet with family members for horse riding or walks in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
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