The making of a royal portrait: British artist behind Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg’s coronation paintings shares amazing behind-the-scenes glimpse at the historic occasion

Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie made history on 3 October when Guillaume aceeded to the throne of Luxembourg, but it was British artist Louise Pragnell who captured the moment with a series of portraits

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You could forgive Louise Pragnell if she felt a little nervous painting Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg. After all, her portraits were the official markers of the biggest day of the royal pair’s lives: the accession of Guillaume to the nation’s throne and the abdication of his father, Grand Duke Henri. Fortunately, British artist Pragnell has plenty of experience painting the great and the gilded: she’s created portraits for the likes of Princess Anne and the Duke of Kent. But what is her process? A recent behind-the-scenes Instagram video revealed all.

Shared by the royal court of Luxembourg, the video shows Pragnell in the Grand Ducal Palace, painting the couple ahead of the abdication day, 3 October 2025. Accompanied by classical piano, Grand Duke Guillaume is dressed in all his finery, including the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau. Pragnell, her back to the grand windows of the Palace, photographs the Grand Duke and paints on a canvas. Elsewhere, Grand Duchess Stéphanie poses for the portrait, wearing some of the nation’s most historic jewels.