Meghan Markle has been depicted as the White Queen, Elizabeth Woodville, in a striking new portrait titled "Returning White Queen" by artist D. Wellen Hall.
The artwork features Meghan with an almost blue skin tone, leading some to humorously question whether she now identifies as 43% Smurf. This piece is part of Hall's latest collection inspired by the royal family throughout history and will be displayed in an exhibition called "The Reign." Prince Harry is also featured in the exhibition as Bonny Prince Charlie, with both his and Meghan's historical alter egos reflecting their status as royal outcasts.
This depiction seems like a jab at Meghan, suggesting someone commissioned the painting as a subtle dig. Without the label, viewers might not even recognize Harry, as he appears more like a random sailor from the 1500s. Elizabeth Woodville, later known as Dame Elizabeth Grey, married Edward IV in 1464 and was considered an outsider due to her family's allegiance to the House of Lancaster during the Wars of the Roses, while the king was a member of the House of York. Her marriage made her unpopular with the people and led to her being known as the White Queen, a title derived from the white rose symbolizing York. Bonny Prince Charlie, or Charles Edward Stuart, earned his nickname due to his good looks and charm. He was another young outsider who inspired the Jacobite rebellion in Scotland in 1745. As the grandson of the deposed King James II, he fought to reclaim the throne but ultimately failed and was forced to flee into exile.
Mr. Wellen Hall explained the inspiration behind his portraits: "The royal family is possibly the most enthralling, longest-running drama in history, inspiring theater, books, and every art form. These figures, caught on the knife-edge of public opinion, seemed ideal for drawing comparisons with distant monarchs, like the exiled princes and princesses of the past who lurk in the background but remain irrevocably tied to the job. We can't help ourselves but wonder what's next." The artist added, "In Harry's case, I've captured the story before he met Meghan, the young party-goer with his future very much in the balance, a bit like the Bonny Prince I have likened him to. I thought putting Meghan in the role of the White Queen, who is a queen consort and possibly the most influential outsider in royal history, might have a fine irony to it and not necessarily beyond the realms of reality."
The "Reign" exhibition featuring these portraits of Harry and Meghan will be open to the public at Burlington House in Mayfair, Central London, on June 28th. The exhibition is being held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Society of Antiquaries at Burlington House. The pictures will be auctioned to support the cataloging and digitization of around 25,000 prints and drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Through this provocative exhibition, Hall aims to explore the complex and often contentious relationship between the public and the royal family by drawing parallels between modern figures like Meghan and Harry and historical ones like Elizabeth Woodville and Bonny Prince Charlie. The artist invites viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of royal fame and exile.
