Princess Margaret's portrait goes on display in London

London, Sept 19 : A painting of Princess Margaret that hung on the wall of her Kensington Palace apartment is going on display at London's National Portrait Gallery.

The 1957 painting by the Italian artist Pietro Annigoni has been lent to the gallery by Viscount Linley, son of the late Princess.

The artist and Princess spoke French during the 33 sittings for the artwork. Annigoni, who died in 1988, expressed an interest in painting the Queen's younger sister when he was painting the first of his portraits of the monarch in 1954, reports BBC.

The sittings began in 1956, a year after Princess Margaret called off her plans to marry Group Captain Peter Townshend.

The Princess is shown in an English garden and was described by Annigoni, who painted two portraits of the Queen and became one of the British Establishment's favourite painters, as being "enveloped in an aura of sensuality".

The painting was among a collection of the Princess's personal effects that were auctioned by Viscount Linley to foot a 3million pounds inheritance tax bill on her estate.

His reason for buying back the portrait for 680,000 pounds, three times its sale estimate, were not disclosed, though he chose to lift his anonymity after speculation about the buyer's identity.

ANI