Queen's portrait of Waterloo hero amended to include slavery links

The portrait of a Waterloo war hero which hangs at Windsor Castle will have its description altered to include claims he tortured slaves.

Sir Thomas Picton was killed while leading troops in the final defeat of Napoleon, but his legacy has been reassessed in the wake of the Black Lives Matter campaign.

As part of a review of the Royal Collection's artworks the army officer's portrait will have its information altered to reflect his links to slavery and colonial violence.

Picton became known as the “Tyrant of Trinidad” for supporting torture on the Caribbean island seized from Spain, and was notorious for interrogation of a teenage slave girl named Luisa Calderon.

The Lieutenant-General was revered for his heroic death at Waterloo, but the Royal Collection Trust (RCT) has announced his portrait will be the first in its 250,000-strong art collection to be reassessed in the wake of anti-racism protests.

Initial label information stated that he “was the most senior officer to die at the Battle of Waterloo”, and that he “came to prominence during the Napoleonic Wars”.

It now reads: "Picton's punitive administration of Trinidad and his subjects' enforced adherence to strict penal codes were the subject of contemporary controversy in Britain and the West Indies.

"He was brought to trial in London in 1806, accused of carrying out torturous practices in jails under his jurisdiction.”

A RCT spokesman revealed that further artworks could be reviewed in the same way, saying: "In terms of other records, work is underway within our curatorial teams to improve and update them, which will happen in the coming weeks and months"

Campaigners have also called for statues honouring the army officer to be brought down, citing his dancing of the torture of the 14-year-old Ms Calderon and brutal colonial regime in Trinidad.

He was partly exonerated and was a sitting MP at the time of his death.