Wanting to lessen the tension which can develop in formal sittings, I suggested that my sitter continue with his normal working day, so that I painted him at his desk whilst he concentrated on his correspondence. To obtain the vantage point I needed, I positioned myself on the floor. At each sitting I sketched and painted head studies, and then worked on these later on my own. Gradually I understood what my final composition would be and I used the arrangement of massed flowers on the desk, culled from the outstandingly beautiful gardens outside. I hope I have captured a portrait of a man looking up from the routine of his work, in his natural habitat, a room replete with objects that have meaning for him.

Extract from Royal Portraits in Eileen Hogan: Personal Geographies published by Yale University Press, 2019