The Prince of Wales is known for his interest and involvement, through the Prince’s Trust, in helping young people make a good start in life, not just in gaining skills but by building confidence. It’s less well known that he has a similar commitment to the arts.
Prince & Patron, an exhibition included in this summer’s opening of the state rooms at Buckingham Palace to mark the Prince’s 70th birthday, includes some of his favourite pieces in the Royal Collection alongside works created by young artists supported by three of his charities. The London-based Royal Drawing School and Prince’s School of Traditional Arts teach observational drawing both at postgraduate level and to schoolchildren, and traditional arts such as ceramic tiles, stained glass, calligraphy and icons. “Students can experience the beauty of the order of nature – a spiritual, sacred beauty, connecting the whole of creation,” says the traditional arts’s website. The third charity, Turquoise Mountain, works to restore historic buildings and revive traditional crafts in Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Middle East.
