9. A Painting of the Queen Sitting on a Blue-colored Horse
Given to: Elizabeth II, the queen
Given by: German President Joachim Gauck
Estimated Value: Not provided
Queen Elizabeth’s fondness for horses is well-known, and the German president Joachim Gauk presented the Queen with a picture of herself as a small child, riding a blue pony with her father, King George, at the reins. Everyone was a little embarrassed when Queen Elizabeth made the quip that blue was a “funny colour for a horse.”
An Image of the Queen Perched atop a Blue Hors Pool/Getty Images
In order to greet her in Germany, Gauk offered her the gift. The pony was created by bright-colored modern German artist Nicole Leidenfrost, who painted it “royal blue,” evoking a “royal horse.” The picture received harsh criticism from the British media, with one art reviewer from The Telegraph labelling it “horrible.”
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