but you also said it was a dream of yours since the age of four. there must have been such a sense, in wanting to get it right, of almost pinching yourself in the moment of what you were actually tasked with and the proximity you had with her majesty during that period. the queen was totally professional about the whole exercise. and remember, the queen has sat for many portraits, so i don't think she greets the request for another portrait with any sense of glee, it has to be considered an occupational hazard. but from the very first sitting the queen said, "mr stone, tell me what you want me to do." so i would demonstrate the pose. we'd chosen what she was going to wear. she seemed surprised that i said, "may we talk?"