The National Portrait Gallery in London announced that it will acquire a photo of Prince Andrew taken right before his infamous interview with Emily Maitlis on Newsnight. The photo captured Andrew and Maitlis in conversation before sitting down to be filmed. The gallery aims to add the photo to its permanent collection after it was assessed by its curators and passed the first curatorial acquisitions meeting. Kate Middleton serves as a royal patron for the gallery, but her role does not influence curatorial duties.
The 2019 interview marked the first time Prince Andrew publicly addressed his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew’s responses to allegations made by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claimed she was forced into sexual encounters with him when she was 17, were widely criticized for causing damage to the royal family. As a result of the scandal, Andrew stepped back from royal duties in November 2019 and permanently resigned from all public roles in May 2020.
The photo in consideration for the National Portrait Gallery’s collection was taken by acclaimed photographer Mark Harrison and offered as a gift to the gallery. The gallery’s objective is to collect portraits of individuals who have shaped British history and culture. The gallery attracts 1.6 million visitors annually and already includes various photos of the royal family, including several portraits of Prince Andrew as a baby and toddler with his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and alongside his former wife, Sarah Ferguson.
Despite delays in making a final decision due to the gallery currently being without a chief curator, officials are expected to make a decision soon on adding the photo of Prince Andrew to their collection. The photo captures a significant moment in recent British history, as it was taken right before Andrew’s interview in which he addressed his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of sexual misconduct. The gallery’s collection already includes several photos of the royal family, depicting family bonds and relationships over the years.
The scandal surrounding Prince Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein and the allegations made against him caused considerable damage to the royal family. Andrew’s failure to acknowledge the behavior of Epstein and his claim that he did not regret his relationship with him led to his decision to step back from royal duties and resign from public roles. The photo being considered for the National Portrait Gallery’s collection represents a key moment in recent British history and the impact of the scandal on the royal family.
The National Portrait Gallery aims to preserve and display portraits of individuals who have shaped British history and culture. The inclusion of the photo of Prince Andrew in their collection would highlight a pivotal moment in recent British history and the impact of the scandal surrounding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. Despite delays in the decision-making process, the gallery’s officials are expected to reach a final decision soon on adding the photo to their permanent collection, where it will join the numerous other portraits of the royal family on display for the millions of visitors who pass through its doors annually.
