An original painting by King Charles of a mountain above Balmoral he produced for a children’s TV programme 31 years ago has sold for over £20,000.
The then Prince of Wales was recorded for the BBC show painting a study of Lochnagar at his easel before being interrupted by noisy children.
He then started telling them the story of ‘The Legend of Lochnagar’ which was based on the 1980 book he wrote titled ‘The Old Man of Lochnagar.’
He narrated the animated TV adaptation which was broadcast in 1993.
As the king continues his cancer battle, it might come as reasuring sentiment to his majesty that a piece of art he created all those years ago has found a new loving home.
A few days ago, he said: ‘In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth.’
The unfinished watercolour painted by the then Prince of Wales sold for over £20,000
King Charles painted the watercolour on the TV adaptation of his book but didn’t finish it
King Charles’ unfinished watercolour painting was picked up after filming by a member of the production team who was given permission to keep it.
She had it mounted and framed and hung it on a wall of her landing of her home in north Somerset for 31 years, before deciding to sell it with Bristol-based auctioneers Clevedon.
The 15ins by 15ins painting was expected to fetch £15,000 but sold for £20,800, including buyer’s premium, to a local buyer who plans to hang it in his home.
Chris Yeo, of auctioneers Clevedon Salerooms of Bristol, said: ‘In 1980 King Charles wrote a story book called The Old Man of Lochnagar and 13 years later recorded a TV adaptation of it for the BBC.
‘In the opening scene King Charles is seen painting this very watercolour picture in his study when some children come in and disturb him.
‘Rather than order them out he starts telling them the story of the Legend of Lochnagar.
‘This was the painting he was filmed working on at the beginning. It was very much part of the storyline. He sketched it out with a cottage right in the centre of the scene and the mountains and sky above it.
‘King Charles is an accomplished and enthusiastic amateur artist and is an honoury member of the Royal Academy.
‘He prefers watercolours because they can be produced quickly and he doesn’t have to keep his security man waiting too long.
‘The vendor was a member of the TV production team in the 1990s and the painting was offered to her to take away. She had it framed and mounted and has kept it out of sunlight so it is in excellent condition.
The then Prince of Wales had his book turned into a BBC show in which he narrated in 1993
The king both painted and wrote. The watercolour was made on a TV adaptation of his book
The Legend Of Lochnagar is the book written by the king that the TV show was based on
As a younger man, the king was inspired to paint by the mountains that surround Balmoral
‘I just think that she felt the time was right to part with it. She has had it on her upstairs landing wall for years and she now wanted to put something else there.
‘Very few of his works come on the open market, just a few limited edition prints but it is very rare for an original watercolour to come up for sale.
‘We’re very pleased with the result.’
King Charles was taught to paint as a child by Robert Waddell, a teacher at Scottish boarding school Gordonstoun.
He then received tutelage from British artists Edward Seago and John Napier.
He primarily paints watercolour landscapes of Royal residences and other scenic spots.
He began selling prints of his watercolour paintings in 1997 to raise funds for The Prince’s Foundation.