Philips William was the eldest son of William of Orange. But having been held hostage in Spain since the age of 14, he was passed over in favour of his half-brother of Maurice when the new stadholder was appointed. Philip William had to make do with the title Prince of Orange. Because he had been raised as a Catholic and a Spanish aristocrat the Dutch distrusted the Prince. Michiel van Miereveld portrayed him as a nobleman, dressed in the opulent fashion of a courtier. In contrast, Van Miereveld depicted Maurice, Frederick Henry and Spinola in their armour. A recurring feature in each of these portraits is a plumed helmet on a sidetable. In 1599 Philip William was made a knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece. Since the painting shows the Prince wearing the insignia of the order, it can be dated to after 1599.
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