Four years after Tatler featured the late Queen on its cover, the society magazine has commissioned a new portrait of Prince William for its annual Commonwealth issue. The future monarch's piercing blue eyes and matching suit were painted by Nigerian artist Oluwole Omofemi, who also painted William's grandmother in her George IV State Diadem in 2022.
A Legacy of Royal Portraits
Taken together, the two portraits reveal the continuity of the Royal Family, showcasing the legacy of Queen Elizabeth II and the future that the next King holds. The latest edition portrays William as a 'Prince for Our Times,' with a kindly, optimistic smile and his gaze fixed straight ahead.
Artist's Perspective
Oluwole, who lives in Ibadan, Nigeria, where he grew up, admitted his grandfather was 'delighted' with his work with the British Royal Family. The artist added that though his upbringing inspires his art and compels him to paint for 'all of Africa,' the UK does not feel like a strange place to him. In fact, he goes as far as saying: 'The UK is like a second home.'
Tatler's Royal Tradition
Oluwole's portrait of William is the latest in a long line of royals Tatler has featured on its cover. In 2022, Tatler asked Oluwole to paint the late Queen Elizabeth II for their July cover. Last year, King Charles and Queen Camilla's 20th wedding anniversary was the subject of the magazine's June issue, while the year before, the Princess of Wales was on the front. In July 2023, King Charles was on the cover again.
Interview Insights
In his interview with Tatler for this edition, Oluwole talks about his heritage, his time in the UK, and how things have changed in his life since his portrait of Elizabeth II. In brief excerpts from the magazine's interview, he revealed his life has changed a great deal in the last four years. Oluwole said: 'It has been a very dramatic turnaround for me as an artist.'
Speaking about his 2022 work, he explained: 'I was painting for my generation and the unborn. For all of Africa. Every day I saw people struggle.' Despite the difficulties of his upbringing, Oluwole worked tirelessly to achieve success in his field, telling himself: 'I would be a successful artist.' Though his work is time-consuming and taxing, he believes art is a calling closer to a vocation than employment. 'People can travel around my world through my paintings. I see everything around me as a piece of art.'
