A HIDDEN painting of Queen Elizabeth I and a real eighteenth century insect have been uncovered by art experts preparing an exhibition of royal portraits.

The portrait of the Queen was painted over sometime in the 18th century to make her appear more modern and only revealed when it was X-rayed ahead of a show at the National Portrait Gallery.

The gallery's chief curator Dr Tarnya Cooper said: "Elizabethan portraits were rarely appreciated as art objects in later centuries, but Elizabeth's reputation as a Protestant champion meant that there was still demand for her image. As a result, artists often reworked original portraits into images that adhered to contemporary notions of beauty."

The beetle was found in a portrait of King Edward VI and thought to be trapped when it was varnished several hundred years ago.

Other works include a plaster and wood bust of King Henry VII, made for his funeral procession, and six portraits of King Henry VIII.

Dr Cooper said: "Visitors will encounter multiple lifetime portraits of each monarch, providing a fascinating and vivid impression of one of the most dynamic dynasties in history."

The Real Tudors: Kings And Queens Rediscovered opened at the National Portrait Gallery in London yesterday.