Graffiti artist, Rich Simmons has taken to the streets to create an alternative take on the royal engagement.

The mural, displayed on London’s Southbank, was created to honour the April’s royal wedding and depicts the couple in leather jackets with a union jack backdrop. Kate is wearing a miniskirt, fingerless gloves, a leopard-print cardigan and holding a cigarette, while William sports a dog collar and ripped jeans. Simmons took inspiration from the well-known photograph of Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen, taken by 1970s photographer Jamie Reid. The words “Future King” are also placed above William’s head to highlight his royal status, but also to demonstrate the extreme differences between William and punk bad boy, Sid. The infamous Sid and Nancy were known for their dramatic and wreck less relationship, a complete contrast to the elegant royal couple.

Rich Simmons spent 50 hours creating the stencils for the piece and a further 5 hours spraying it on to an official graffiti wall on the Southbank. He also has a royal connection of his own, having received a Prince’s Trust grant to start up his art therapy organisation that works with young people. Simmons says that the mural represents a “modern breed of royals” and that William and Kate are more down to earth and not “snooty types”.

We recently blogged about Zoobs’ Kate Middleton version of the Iconic “God Save The Queen” album cover by the Sex Pistols, and Rich Simmons’ Artwork seems to be continuing this trend for revolutionising the royals. This juxtaposition of an elegant and traditional concept embodied in modern and contemporary styles suggests that the royal couple will signify a younger and more relatable royal family.

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