The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been reimagined as famous historical royals by the youngest artist to ever paint the late Queen Elizabeth.
But the abstract paintings, which depict Prince Harry as Bonnie Prince Charlie and Meghan Markle as Dame Elizabeth Grey, have received strong backlash online.
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A third questioned whether the artist was a four-year-old child.
“How is that Meghan? That painting is ugly,” wrote one unimpressed critic on social media.
“Sorry I don’t see Meghan! She’s just an unknown woman,” another added.
Artist Dan Llywelyn Hall was 32 when he was commissioned to paint the late Queen in 2013.
He said: “In Harry’s case, I came into the story before he met Meghan, the young party boy with his future very much at stake, a bit like the Bonnie Prince I’ve compared him to.
“I thought that 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.”
The depiction of the couple going against the grain reflects their decision in 2020 to step down from being working royals, citing press intrusion and a desire to live a more independent life.
The portraits will be displayed in an exhibition in London called The Reign at the Society of Antiquaries in Piccadilly.
It features other paintings by the artist, including a depiction of the state queue, which made headlines around the world in the wake of Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022.
There are also 10 other paintings by artist Adam Dant.
Llywelyn Hall added: “The Royal Family is arguably the most gripping and longest-running drama in history, inspiring theatre, books and all forms of art.
“It seemed that these figures caught on the edge of public opinion were ideal for drawing comparisons with distant monarchs, like the exiled princes and princesses of the past, who lurk in the background but are still irrevocably linked to the work.
“We can't help but wonder what's next?”
The paintings will be removed to assist the society in its work of digitising and cataloguing around 25,000 engravings and drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Llywelyn Hall said he found “the subject of royalty absolutely irresistible and a great boon to art.”
The Kingdom will open to the public tomorrow (June 28) and the auction will take place on July 4.
