David Hockney goes iPad to paint Her Majesty

DAVID Hockney has painted the Queen for the first time with an iPad, showing her enjoying her Diamond Jubilee river pageant.

Hockney portrait

IN a vivid depiction of a traditional subject created with the most modern technology, David Hockney has painted the Queen for the first time with an iPad, showing her enjoying her Diamond Jubilee river pageant.

The 74-year-old artist used the Apple device's capabilities to capture the brilliant crimson of the Royal Barge against the greying lilac backdrop of the unrelenting rain and mist.

Famous for his use of colour, Hockney has transformed the Queen's white crystal-studded coat into lemon-yellow. Perhaps controversially, she appears to be holding up two fingers.

A printed copy of the riverscape, entitled The End of The Regatta, will be given by Hockney, who was appointed a member of the Order of Merit in January, to the Queen's royal collection, which has portraits dating back to the 16th century.

Standing beside the Queen in the picture is the Duke of Edinburgh in military uniform.

Prince Philip was celebrating his 91st birthday at home yesterday after five days of antibiotic treatment in hospital for a bladder infection.

The prince is understood to have returned to Windsor Castle to celebrate his birthday privately with the Queen after being discharged from the King Edward VII hospital in London.

Asked if he felt better, he replied: "Well, I wouldn't be coming out if I wasn't."