On Tuesday afternoon, May 14, the first official portrait of King Charles since his Coronation was unveiled at Buckingham Palace.
The King is depicted wearing the uniform of the Welsh Guards in a vibrant oil painting.
New Portrait of King Charles
Measuring 8ft 15in by 6ft 15in, the striking artwork is created by artist Jonathan Yeo, known for painting Tony Blair, Sir David Attenborough, and Malala Yousafzai.
Commissioned in 2020 to celebrate Prince Charles’s 50 years as a member of The Drapers’ Company in 2022, the portrait showcases his transformation from Prince to King, symbolized by a butterfly in the artwork.
Yeo credited the butterfly idea to the King himself, who humorously referred to his earlier stage as a “chrysalis” during the unveiling.
The portrait, predominantly painted in bright red, aims for a more contemporary feel, as explained by Yeo.
Speaking about the portrait, Yeo expressed gratitude for capturing the King’s humanity and the evolution of his public role.
The painting process involved multiple sittings between June 2021 and November 2023 at both Highgrove and Clarence House.
At the unveiling, King Charles, along with Queen Camilla, was accompanied by The Master of The Drapers’ Company and Jonathan Yeo.
The portrait will be displayed for public viewing at the Philip Mould Gallery in London until June 14, with free entry.
