With much of his life having been taken up with sporting activities and a full diary of public engagements, it might be thought that Prince Philip had little time for any other pursuits, but he did and still does. His interest in art, both as a creator and collector, dates back decades to when he invited the artist Edward Seago to accompany him on Britannia for the Antarctic and later stages of his 1956–57 world tour. On the voyage, Seago gave Prince Philip some lessons in oil painting, adding to his skill as a water-colourist. Hanging in the royal collection is a painting by Seago of Philip at work on deck with his easel and brushes.

Philip confesses to have given much of his work away but one painting remains in his personal collection. Painted in 1956, it is entitled ‘The Queen at Breakfast, Windsor Castle’. The painting gives an intimate and detailed view of the Queen in an off-duty moment, reading a newspaper. The breakfast table is covered with a crisp white tablecloth, the plates, cups and saucers are white china, and there is a loaf of bread with a jar of marmalade and another place set for Philip. On the walls are two horse paintings by renowned equestrian artist George Stubbs.

Prince Philip’s taste in art certainly didn’t appeal to Prince Charles. When he arrived for part of his honeymoon in the summer of 1981 at Craigowan, a small house on the Balmoral estate, he found it had been decorated with the duke’s collection of modern pictures, including one of Prince Philip’s own efforts – a Balmoral scene. So back on the walls went the Highland scenery and paintings and sketches of Queen Victoria and her children. ‘That’s better,’ the prince said to his valet, Stephen Barry. ‘But no doubt Papa will swap them again at Christmas.’ He was right. The next time Prince Philip arrived at the house he made the footman change them all around again. And so it went on.

As a patron of the arts, Prince Philip has added many contemporary British artists to the royal collections. He was instrumental in getting the Queen’s Gallery open at Buckingham Palace, where the public can view changing exhibitions from the Queen’s collection, with the admission fees going towards the palace upkeep. It might surprise some to learn that he is even a fan of Tracey Emin and has said he found her ‘interesting’ when he met her at the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate. The Queen apparently didn’t know who she was and asked her if she had ever ‘exhibited internationally as well as in Margate’.