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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Izzy Hawksworth & Graeme Murray

Man who shares birthday with the Queen inks TATTOO of her on his own leg

A tattoo artist who shares a birthday with the Queen has inked a portrait of her late Majesty on his own leg.

Michael Purkiss, was so upset by the death of Elizabeth II that he decided to tattoo a portrait of her just above his left knee.

He decided to get the tattoo as he has the same birthday as the Queen, and he used to joke with people that every year she would send him a cake.

It took just over two hours and takes pride of place on his flesh next to an existing tattoo of fictional superhero Batman's nemesis the Joker.

The 57-year-old chose a photo of the Queen, aged 26, when she was on her way to parliament for the first time.
In the image, she is smiling and looking away from the camera.

Michael, of Southampton, said: "I thought that I needed to keep her going somehow so I thought I'm going to tattoo her on my leg.

"I looked on Friday to see what the best picture was, and found a photo of when she was younger and smiling.

Michael Purkiss and the portrait design on his left leg (Michael Purkiss / SWNS)
The tattoo which took Michael several hours to complete now adorns his left leg (Michael Purkiss / SWNS)

"Then I tattooed it on my leg upside down, but when you are doing it yourself it hurts more, and you have to do it upside down.

"I tattoo other people, but this hurts worse.

"I did it because she always had a happy little face and she was never judgmental with anyone, no matter what colour you are or what tattoos you have.

"She just treated you the same as everyone else, she was very none-judgemental about everything."

Michael said he was "really sad" when he found out the Queen had passed away, as he had 'always looked up' to her.

He added: "On Thursday, I was watching the news with my mum and it was sad because she was ill.

Michael used to joke that every year the Queen would send him a cake (Michael Purkiss / SWNS)
Michael found picture of the Queen when she was younger and created the tattoo based on the image (Michael Purkiss / SWNS)

"Then later on in the afternoon we obviously heard that she had died.

"Her birthday is on the same birthday as mine, so I felt really sad as I was always happy to tell everyone each year that the Queen sends me a cake.

"I always looked up to the Queen, thinking that she sets how we should act and treat each other - like the old school stuff like opening doors for people."

The Mirror reported earlier how a royal superfan had spent over £1,000 getting two tattoos of the Queen to remember her reign.

Graham Wilson, 54, was saddened by the monarch's passing and wanted to go the extra mile to pay his respects.

He decided the best way to do so would be to get a fresh tattoo - so he came up with a design that had two images of Queen Elizabeth II in it, one from when she was younger and the other from towards the end of her reign.

In the end, Graham, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, spent £1,400 on his new tattoo - that takes pride of place on his left leg.

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