Celebration of HRH The Princess Royal

The Company’s portrait of our Perpetual Royal Master by Louise Pragnell was revealed at a January Court.  This striking portrait was commissioned by the Company to recognise and record the role of our third Perpetual Royal Master for future generations for her lifetime of commitment to the equestrian sector, equine charities, saddlery fitting and the welfare of horses, as well as education and the many other organisations with which we share a common interest.

The portrait hangs in the Great Hall alongside portraits of our two previous Perpetual Royal Masters: HRH Frederick, Prince of Wales, our first Royal Master from 1737 – 1751, and HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Royal Master from 1906 – 1942.  Also in the Hall is a portrait of Sir Peter Laurie, an ancestor of our current Prime Warden; a leading London saddler who was Lord Mayor in 1832 and Master of the Company in 1833.

The composition shows HRH in her Master’s robes, in the Court Room and on the table is the Freedom Roll, a book that has been used as the Company’s register of all those admitted to the Freedom since 1684.  A beautifully crafted saddle is depicted sitting still in the quietness of the Hall, but its design and purpose over centuries, has been to harness movement and power. A symbol of the enduring bond between humans and horses.

The artist, Louise Pragnell, thanked the Company for the commission explaining that: ‘oil painting is a slow and deliberate process, the application of paint and layers of glazing requires much patience and time. In an era dominated by fleeting digital impressions, I find the medium’s timeless qualities of resilience, depth and permanence all the more appealing.  Alone in the studio, sometimes an artist’s energy can flag. In such times, the example of Her Royal Highness’s extraordinary work ethic and unwavering commitment to public service will continue to inspire me’.