Artist Jonathan Yeo Reveals Royal Response to King Charles III Portrait

King Charles Portrait Artist Shares Royal's Reaction to Official Portrait

Jonathan Yeo Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images

Jonathan Yeo's portrait of King Charles III continues to spark reactions even after being revealed nearly two weeks ago. However, Yeo has received the ultimate approval from the most important person - the King himself.

During an episode of Hello magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast" on Thursday, May 24, Yeo, who is 53 years old, disclosed that Charles had seen a nearly complete version of the portrait last year and had graciously given his approval.

When I first showed him the portrait in November, it was almost three-quarters complete. The face was finished, the body was sketched out, and the colors were mostly finalized. He didn't seem appalled by it, which was a relief. If he had been, I might have reconsidered and made some changes.

Yeo had mentioned to the BBC that Prince Charles was a bit surprised by the bold use of color, but overall he seemed to be smiling and approving of the portrait. The strong red color sparked mixed reactions among both casual observers and art experts. Interestingly enough, Queen Camilla was actually a fan of the vibrant red in the painting.

"When Camilla saw it and immediately smiled, I thought, 'Phew, that's the one that matters,'" he shared with the Boston Globe recently.

Yeo, on the other hand, is pleased with the strong response to his colorful royal portrait. He has experience painting members of the royal family, including Camilla and Prince Philip.

King Charles Portrait Artist Shares Royal's Reaction to Official Portrait

Jonathan Yeo and King Charles III Aaron Chown-WPA Pool/Getty Images

It’s interesting to see how a painted portrait can still generate so many discussions in today’s world filled with images. Last week, the artist expressed his enjoyment in the various conspiracy theories sparked by his painting. If you haven’t shared your own unique interpretation yet, feel free to comment below. The most original interpretation might just win a copy of The Da Vinci Code.

The reason behind the abundance of red in the painting is actually quite simple, despite the wild speculations online. Yeo decided to use the color red to balance out the prominence of Charles’ red Welsh Guard uniform, which was a specific request for inclusion in the portrait.

Yeo shared with Hello that he drew inspiration from the Welsh Guards for the red color in the painting. He aimed for a more contemporary look that wouldn't overshadow the focus on the face and personality. The red color was an initial experiment that he later sketched out and refined, finding that the combination of the face and background complemented each other perfectly.

Editor's P/S:

Jonathan Yeo's portrait of King Charles III has garnered significant attention and sparked diverse interpretations. Despite mixed reactions to the bold use of red, the King's approval and Queen Camilla's positive response suggest a level of satisfaction with the work. Yeo's decision to use red was intentional, aiming to balance the prominence of the King's Welsh Guard uniform. The portrait has sparked discussions and conspiracy theories, highlighting the enduring power of painted imagery in generating dialogue.

The artist's experience in depicting royal family members, including Camilla and Prince Philip, provides context to his approach to painting Charles III. The interplay between tradition and contemporary elements in Yeo's work is evident, as he seeks to capture the personality of his subjects while also reflecting their formal roles and symbolism. The portrait serves as a testament to the ongoing significance of royal portraiture, offering insights into the image and representation of the British monarchy.