Artist ‘nearly fainted’ after discovering work was for Queen Camilla

An artist says she “nearly fainted” when she found out a portrait she had been commissioned to draw was a gift for the Royal Family.

Queen Camilla was presented with the painting of her rescue dogs Bluebell and Beth – who died last year – and a picture of her adopted puppy Moley as she officially opened Bromham Community Hub in Wiltshire on Tuesday.

Artist Hannah Hurst, who lives in Calne, said she was commissioned to paint the picture by the village’s V&P farm shop – but no one told her the dogs belonged to the Queen.

When presented with the picture of Moley, the Queen said: “I’m going to show it to her – I’m sure she’s going to recognise herself.”

The artist, 44, had only realised her work was a gift for the Queen when she was later shown a photograph of the King and Camilla holding the dogs.

“I nearly fainted on the floor,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

Camilla, who is patron of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home (BDCH), adopted Beth in 2011 when she was a three-month-old unwanted puppy, and Bluebell in 2012 after she was found wandering alone in a London park with a skin condition.

In February, the royal announced she would be adopting eight-week-old Moley, also from BDCH.

Ms Hurst said she wanted to honour the Queen’s work as patron of the animal charity in the portraits.

“The dogs are represented with Battersea Dogs Home charity little scarves, and that was really important that that was included,” she said.

The Queen also unveiled a plaque at the site and planted a cherry tree in memory of PC Craig Dalby – who worked with her as a close protection officer on several occasions.

Mr Dalby’s widow Serena said it was an “emotional” moment.

“She (Camilla) was just warm, and Craig was really fond of her,” Mrs Dalby said.