After he completed the portrait, Harris' reputation as an artist and the value of his works increased, and he was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

The painting was commissioned by the BBC, and subsequently unveiled at the Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace and publicly displayed there from 20 December 2005 to 11 June 2006.

Then, in 2013, he was arrested as part of Operation Yewtree, a police investigation into child sexual abuse by media celebrities, and was convicted for indecent assault and imprisoned for five years and nine months in June 2014.

Two sittings were held at Buckingham Palace in the summer of 2005; Harris subsequently completed the painting at his own art studio.

[1] Prior to painting the portrait, Harris said that he wanted to "get the real person rather than the state image" and intended that it would be "representational of the way the Queen looks and her obvious charm and friendly quality, rather than the very formal".

[6][8] Clive Aslet, writing for the same publication, described the painting as representing a "nadir" of portraiture of the Queen, saying it showed her "grinning like the monkey on top of a barrel organ".

[9] Jonathan Jones of The Guardian said, "The press conference was a sickening display of fawning over Harris and his fatuous painting, and something in me snapped.

[3] Following Harris's arrest and 2014 conviction for indecent assault and sexual offences, BBC News' online magazine discussed the location and ownership of the painting.