Gadzooks, it's Philip!

This is the royal portrait Prince Philip never wanted to see.

The controversial new painting, unveiled today by artist Stuart Pearson Wright, was the target of a typically outspoken tirade when Philip first saw an early version of his likeness.

"Gadzooks!", he said, adding, with profound relief, "as long as I don't have to have it on my wall!" What his artistic criticism will be of the finished version, one can only guess.

Philip, 83, is pictured barechested with a bluebottle on his shoulder and a plant growing from a finger. It is called Homo sapiens, Lepidum sativum and Calliphora vomitoria.

Two years ago Pearson Wright, 28, was chosen by the Duke of Edinburgh to paint his portrait on behalf of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), of which he is president.

The artist was given four onehour sittings - until the Prince saw the work in progress. Asked by the artist if he thought it a good likeness, he replied: "I bloody well hope not!" That marked the end of their working relationship.

The artist submitted his work to the RSA but it was rejected. Instead he gave them a toneddown version showing only the Prince's head. Pearson Wright finally unveiled his finished portrait this afternoon to publicise a new show at the Jerwood Space, SE1, in which his works are exhibited.

He said: "Philip said he wouldn't want it on his wall, but I knew the completed portrait would have to see the light of day at some point. I guess I'll sell it."

The portrait was completed thanks to photographs and a model - "an elderly gentleman from Bethnal Green" - who posed for the Prince's figure. Pearson Wright said he depicted the Prince apparently without clothes because of "a desire to strip the genre of portrait painting of its historical function as a propaganda tool for the wealthy and powerful."