Princess Diana portrait goes missing

AMIDST ALL the fuss about the current unveiling of a new portrait of the Queen by Ozzie Harris, it seems Britain's establishment is quietly trying to airbrush the late lamented Princess Di out of the picture, literally.

Up until recently a portrait of Di had centre place in the Royal collection at London's National Portrait Gallery, just one of 40-odd depictions. But now nothing is left hanging, especially the celebrated acrylic on canvas by Bryan Organ painted in 1982 soon after Di's engagement to Big Ears.

Our mole at the state gallery tells us the painting was taken down in summer ostensibly to be exhibited at Sheffield along with works by cartoonist Gerald Scarfe. But since then it has mysteriously disappeared for "restoration treatment."

Adds our mole: "Word is that it won't be coming back."

Even more intriguingly Organ's portrait was removed just two weeks before the putative Charles III married his paramour, Camilla. Suffice to say another portrait by Organ, this time of Charles himself resplendent in riding boots, remains on display at the gallery.

Give it time and there will surely be a portrait of his new missus, hanging alongside.

For those of you who want to catch the missing portrait, you can click on the gallery's digital archives here, before it - and the rest of Di's portraits - disappear from sight forever. [Is it back now? It says it's not on display, Ed.] µ