Prince Charles pays for Catherine portrait

Britain's Prince Charles has paid for a portrait of Duchess Catherine to be painted as a gift for Prince William.
The heir to the throne has commissioned artist Nicky Philipps to paint the 30-year-old royal - who married William at London's Westminster Abbey on April 29 2011 - for what is believed to be a present for the Duke of Cambridge's 30th birthday in June, the Daily Telegraph newspaper reports.
Catherine has reportedly been sitting for Philipps - who painted the only existing joint portrait of William and Harry - in his South Kensington studio while Prince William completes his tour of duty as a RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Falkland Islands.
However, Philipps has previously admitted while he would never turn down the opportunity to paint Catherine ''in a million years'', he thinks her beauty would make it a difficult job.
Last year, he said: ''If they asked me, I wouldn't turn it down in a million years, but beautiful people are always more difficult.
''With symmetrical faces, there's nothing to hang the portrait on. It's very unlikely that you'll ever do them enough justice.''
A Clarence House spokesperson said: ''We have private commissions happening from time to time, but we do not comment on them.''
Catherine recently admitted she is missing William ''terribly'' as he carries out his duties in the Falkland Islands.
Laura Murphy, a well-wisher in Leicester on the first leg of Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee tour of Britain, said: ''I said, 'How's William?' and she said, 'He's fine - I'm missing him terribly'. She was really smiley. Really happy.''

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