Local Artist's Gift To Heartbroken Royals

Portrait of William and Kate's dog, Lupo, who died last month

Lupo by Rob Ballentine

A local artist whose work can be seen at Gunnersbury's new market, was so moved by the death of Prince William and Kate's dog, Lupo, he captured him on canvas and has sent the beautiful work to the Royals.

Lupo, a cocker spaniel, was a Christmas gift to William and Kate from her family in 2011. Over the years, Lupo became an important part of the Cambridge household, appearing in a few official royal portraits, including the first photo of Prince George released to the public and the portraits shared for George's third birthday in 2016.

Spaniels are known for being an energetic breed and in March, Kate said table tennis was a difficult activity because of Lupo's determination to get involved.
Announcing his death via the Kensington Palace Instagram account last month, William and Kate said: ''Very sadly last weekend our dear dog, Lupo, passed away. He has been at the heart of our family for the past nine years and we will miss him so much. - W & C ''

Rob at work on the painting

Rob Ballentine only started drawing in May this year after a friend's dog died. '' My wife asked if I could draw his picture (I’d drawn a couple of things in the past but just for us at home). The picture helped him with his grief and since then I’ve turned my art, having lost my job to Covid, into a new career, that’s been fully booked since May.

''We’re a nation of animal lovers and Covid has brought that friendship even closer and helped with the mental health of so many. But inevitably our best friends pass away and the grief is almost inconsolable in these times. Drawing the portraits is an intimate experience that has helped many of the people who’ve commissioned me.

Rob says he could really identify with what William and Kate were going through: '' I saw the article of Lupo’s passing and read how heart broken the Royal couple were by their loss. Having lost our own dog two years ago and the heartbreak we felt as a family, it resonated deeply.

'"I felt compelled to draw him. He’s a beautiful boy and thought that If I could bring him to canvas as much as I saw him in the picture, then I hoped that he would help them as I know it has helped me and others.''

He says he just wanted to help the Royals: "'If I could draw something worthy of the Royal Couple , then that was the right thing to do."

Rob says his own family has had ''Patch'' - a Blue Rhone Cocker Spaniel, for the last 6 years who he says ''takes the seriousness out of life" and is part of the family.

Rob will be at Gunnersbury Christmas Market at the Willow and Tea - Sustainable Scented Candles and Reed Diffusers stall with his wife this Saturday.

We have requested comment about the gift from Kensington Palace and await response.

Annemarie Flanagan

December 9th 2020