LONDON.- A new portrait of the Duke of Cambridge entitled 'Fatherhood' by artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, unveiled in July at the Welsh Office in Whitehall, is to be sold at Bonhams First World War Centenary Sale on 1 October in London. It is estimated at £8,000-10,000.

All the proceeds will go to The Victoria Cross Trust and War Memorials Trust. It is rare for a royal portrait to come up for public auction as most are commissioned for institutions.

The picture, which took three months to complete, is the most recent of only three portraits to be made of the Duke. It was painted to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War and depicts the Duke wearing a dark suit and red tie with a poppy in his left lapel, looking slightly upwards against a red background.

The picture is based on a meeting at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when the Duke viewed Mr Hall’s portrait of the Queen called “Icon”, commissioned by the Welsh Rugby Union.

Dan Llywelyn Hall said: “Fatherhood’ is a portrait about a universal theme: the concerns, hopes and aspirations of a family man. On the centenary of the Somme, where such horror consumed the lives of over a million people, it seems appropriate to support two charities that uphold the memory and acknowledge the legacy of our forefathers.”

”The director of War Memorials Trust, Frances Moreton, commented: “War Memorials Trust is delighted to be a beneficiary of the sale of this portrait. All proceeds will go to supporting the work of protecting and conserving war memorials across the UK. As we approach the centenary of the First World War up to 10% of war memorials may be in need of careful repair and conservation. Donations such as this will enable the charity to help many more local communities appropriately cherish our shared national war memorial heritage.”

Chairman of The Victoria Cross Trust, Gary Stapleton, said: “The portrait of the late Sir Tasker Watkins and Harry Patch which Mr Llywelyn Hall painted a few years ago is steeped in phenomenal history and it is great to see the nation’s heroes and those awarded with the Victoria Cross continuing to be immortalised through art – as it means they will be remembered and honoured for centuries to come. The proceeds from the auction will allow us to continue our vital work in restoring the graves of Victoria Cross heroes.”