A Royal Encounter: Celebrating Arnold Friberg’s Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Daily Mail Video presentation by James Nicholls : Queen Elizabeth II painting by Arnold Friberg

Nicholls Art Group is delighted to present, in partnership with First Freedom Art Company, Houston, an exclusive display of Arnold Friberg RSA’s historic Portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II alongside his celebrated Royal Canadian Mounted Police paintings at Parliament. This private viewing brings together ambassadors, diplomats, and leading figures from politics, the arts, and the media - honouring an extraordinary artist and a remarkable royal story.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) commissioned Friberg to paint a large (5 × 8 ft) equestrian portrait of Her Majesty. The Queen loved horses and welcomed a portrait on horseback. Practicalities, however, intervened: horses don’t enjoy indoor sittings or standing still, and Friberg’s priority was to depict the Queen perfectly. His ingenious solution was to construct a wooden horse for the sittings and add the real horse’s features later. Her Majesty loved the idea; it made her laugh and helped cement a warm rapport.

Friberg had already painted a life-size portrait of The Prince of Wales (now King Charles III) - with the same horse, further deepening his royal connection. He was also granted the rare honour of a studio at Buckingham Palace for two months to complete the Queen’s portrait.

These paintings by Friberg will be featured in a public exhibition for the first time in London, early 2026. The preview event this week in London celebrates not only a distinguished artist and a timeless royal portrait, but also the enduring friendship between the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and the wider Commonwealth - a testament to the power of art to connect cultures and history, and to international respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Our thanks to Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent of the Daily Mail.

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