Queen Camilla Receives Coronation Portrait Fan

Queen Camilla received the fan depicted in her official Coronation portrait Thursday during a visit to The Fan Museum in Greenwich, southeast London, where she opened a new exhibition on monarchy and fans.

The fan, commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers, of which Camilla serves as patron and Honorary Liveryman, was formally presented to her by Master Dinesh Naidu. Artist Paul Benney, who painted the portrait unveiled at the National Gallery last year, explained its intricate details, including Camilla's favorite flowers such as delphiniums, alliums and lavender, a monarch butterfly, her birth date constellations and a dragonfly symbolizing George and the Dragon. The fan was crafted by Frederick Gay, Britain's master fan maker.

Although Camilla posed for the portrait holding one of her own fans, she had not seen this commissioned piece before. "Oh that's really beautiful, that's lovely, thank you very much," she said upon receiving it. She added, "It's so beautiful, I shall save it for special occasions," and told Benney, "I am deeply honoured to have it. I think Paul's work is beautiful, just like the portrait."

The Duchess of Gloucester, a Liveryman of the...