Artist Nicky Philipps warmly recalls a time when Princes William and Harry were 'so close' in an upcoming episode of Keeping Up with the Aristocrats, saying fondly of the time: 'Those were the days.'
The contemporary portraitist, 57, unveiled the first double portrait of royal brothers in 2010, a decade before the Duke of Sussex, 37, and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 40, announced their decision to 'step back as 'senior' members' of the royal family.
And, while painting three generations of females from the posh Sitwell family in scenes set to air on Monday, Nicky spoke of a time she had the royals at her own home, saying: 'I painted them for the National Portrait Gallery. They were so sweet. They were so close, those were the days.
Looking back: Artist Nicky Philipps, 57, warmly recalls a time when Princes William and Harry were 'so close' in an upcoming episode of Keeping Up with the Aristocrats
'I said, 'Could I possibly have them at home?', and they did, which was amazing. They were in full uniform and they just walked around, into the house and not one single one of my neighbours noticed anything, and this happened five times.
'That was in 2008 when I got savaged for giving William too much hair. I think the poor chap lost quite a lot of it in 2009. I don't know what happened then but it all fell out.'
Keeping Up with the Aristocrats follows the lives of four of Britain's most prominent aristocratic dynasties.
Work of art: The contemporary portraitist unveiled the first double portrait of royal brothers in 2010
Asset-rich but often cash strapped, the cameras follow the family members in a bid to reveal what really goes on behind their closed doors, over one summer's social season.
When the first oil portrait of Princes William and Harry by Nicky was unveiled in 2010 all parties declared themselves delighted at the result.
Nicky said she felt 'particularly pleased' with Harry's profile - including what she described as his broken nose.
Reflection: Nicky spoke of a time she had the royals at her own home, saying: 'I painted them for the National Portrait Gallery. They were so sweet. They were so close, those were the days'
And the balding Wills didn't complain that he was given rather more hair than he actually possessed at the time.
The brothers had never been persuaded to pose formally for an artist before and Nicky was commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery in London to undertake the £11,000 painting, which measures 54in by 58in.
The siblings are shown wearing the formal dress uniform of the Household Cavalry Blues and Royals. At the time both were lieutenants in the regiment.
Screen stars: Nicky made her comments while painting three generations of females from the posh Sitwell family in scenes set to air on Keeping Up with the Aristocrats on Monday
The pair are depicted 'in casual conversation' during an imagined moment just before they leave the late Queen Mother's former
