Roll up to see Royal row art

Published on 17/03/2012 12:20

A PRICELESS work of art which was once the centre of a royal row has gone on display in the Queen’s Gallery at Holyrood House.

The miniature of Queen Victoria’s fourth child and second son, Prince Alfred, was painted when the prince attended Edinburgh University in 1863-64.

Exhibition curator Deborah Clarke tells how artist Kenneth Macleay had first painted Alfred in what he considered a suitable white cravat. She added: “Queen Victoria cried ‘no’, as she wanted a black tie. The argument went back and forth but Victoria certainly won that victory.”