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Tattoo artist inks portrait of birthday twin Queen Elizabeth II on his own leg

"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."

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A tattoo artist has tattooed a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on his leg to pay tribute to her, as they share the same birthday.
(Michael Purkiss via SWNS)

By Izzy Hawksworth via SWNS

A tattoo artist who shares a birthday with Queen Elizabeth II has inked a portrait of her on his OWN leg.

Michael Purkiss, 57, was so upset by the death of Queen 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 a pride of place on his flesh next to an existing tattoo of Batman's nemesis the Joker.

He chose a photo of Queen Elizabeth II, 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.

A tattoo artist has tattooed a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on his leg to pay tribute to her, as they share the same birthday. (Michael Purkiss via SWNS)
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"I thought that I needed to keep her going somehow so I thought I'm going to tattoo her on my leg," said Michael, of Southampton, England.

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

"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 color you are or what tattoos you have.

"She just treated you the same as everyone else, she was very non-judgemental about everything."

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

"On Thursday, I was watching the news with my mum and it was sad because she was ill," he said.

"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."

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