The best (and worst) royal portraits - in pictures

'Just wait till you see what he's done to Pippa!'
The first official portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge by Glasgow-born artist Paul Emsley, unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery on January 11, 2013. Photograph: Reuters

'It's not a pattern in the carpet, Granny. It's a corgi.'
The Royal Family: A Centenary Portrait by John Wonnacott, 2000 Photograph: Rex Features

'How come we've only got one pair of gloves between us?'
Artist Nicky Philipps stands with her work, Prince William and Prince Harry, at the National Portrait gallery in 2010 Photograph: Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

'Can someone please reattach my right arm?'
A portrait by artist Richard Stone of Prince Charles unveiled at Goldsmiths Hall, London, 2011 Photograph: Rex Features

'It will look better when the flag is draped in front, Ma'am.'
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Colonel-in-Chief, unveils a portrait of herself during a visit to The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in 2012 Photograph: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

'I can just about live with the teeth. But the Blue Peter badge is too much!'
Rolf Harris officially unveils his portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in 2005 Photograph: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

'Spin on that, you horrible little oik.'
Stuart Pearson Wright and his portrait of Prince Philip from 2004 Photograph: Murray Sanders/Rex Features

'I always wanted to look like Barbie.'
Princess Diana posing at Kensington Palace in 1984 by artist John Ward Photograph: AP

'I'm sorry Ma'am, but you really do have a pin head and you are going bald.'
Glasgow artist Alison Watt at the unveiling of her portrait of the Queen Mother at the National Portrait Gallery in 1989 Photograph: Martin Keene/PA

'It's a self-portrait.'
Lincoln Taber with his portrait of Princess Anne, in 1983. The portrait was commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers Photograph: PA Archive

'We had to throw away the rest, Ma'am. Lucian only does nudes.'
Curator Lauren Porter hangs a portrait by Lucian Freud of Queen Elizabeth II Photograph: Steve Parsons/Press Association Images

'This Botox thingy is simply marvellous.'
1957 portrait of Princess Margaret by Italian artist Pietro Annigoni Photograph: National Portrait Gallery/PA

'Good Lord, Mr Warhol. You must have been as stoned as Princess Margaret.'
Queen Elizabeth II, by Andy Warhol, 1985 at a Bonhams auction Photograph: Ray Tang/Rex Features

'Either I've got taller or those trees are awfully small.'
Pietro Annigoni's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from 1954-55 Photograph: The Fishmongers' Company/PA

'Was I really that pissed?'
Coronation portrait of the Queen Mother by John Helier Lander Photograph: PoodlesRock/Corbis